Tanker wrecked off the coast of Malta to become a diving attraction?

It is likely that the tanker wrecked off the coast of Malta will eventually be sunk as another diving attraction.

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Measuring 60 meters in length, the tanker “Hephaestus” settled last year on a shoal off the coast of Malta. It is likely to become a new diving attraction on the island of Gozo in the near future. The ship was damaged in a storm and was stranded on the rocks near Qawra for six months.

The vessel was successfully removed and in the meantime a plan emerged, to find it a new role. This time already the last in her career as an artificial reef and attraction for diving tourists. Preliminary plans call for sinking the tanker near Qala, on the east coast of the island of Gozo.

The Professional Diving Schools Association of Malta Gozo and Comino (PDSA), has already begun steps to legalize the entire venture. Currently, the matter is at the stage of checking the location selected as the final resting place of “Hephaestus.” If officials approve the site the whole affair will gain momentum.

Certainly, the new wreck will not feel alone at the bottom. There are already three other vessels sunk nearby – MV “Karvela”, MV “Xlendi” and MV “Cominoland”.

Interestingly, the tanker wrecked off the coast of Malta has already managed to become a tourist attraction. During its six-month stay on the rocks, tourists and locals alike often stopped near the immobilized ship to take a souvenir photo with the unusual feature, which has grown into the landscape.

The ship, after being towed away, was found at the Cassar Ship Repair yard in Marsa, but the owner deemed the repairs too expensive and thus sealed the fate of the vessel. So we are left to wait until all the paperwork is done and another one appears on the bottom of the destination of diving expeditions.