How to watch: Sinking of former smuggling ship in Mayo
The MV Shingle will be sank into Killala Bay to create Ireland's first artificial reef.
The sinking of a former smuggling vessel into Killala Bay for it to become an artificial reef is scheduled to take place today - Wednesday, September 18.
The MV Shingle was seized by Customs officers at Drogheda Port as part of a €14m tobacco seizure in 2014 and was held by the Revenue Commission. It sat in the dry dock at New Ross in the years since.
Earlier this year, a Maritime Area Consent licence was granted to the Killala Bay Ships 2 Reef project team, a group of diving enthusiasts, to allow them to tow the Shingle to Killala Bay for sinking.
Planning permission was then granted by Mayo County Council in July of this year for the preparation, transportation, positioning and placement of the MV Shingle on the seabed of Killala Bay.
As Ireland’s first artificial reef, it is hoped that the project can bring a boost in diving tourism to the west of Ireland as well as promoting local marine ecology.
The sinking of the ship can be watched live on YouTube:
MV Shingle is in Killala Bay ⚓️
— Ocean Sands Hotel (@OceanSandsHotel) September 17, 2024
Watch as Ireland’s first artificial reef in Killala Bay is created Wednesday
Watch livestream online https://t.co/O5TMRkiJlI
Full details: https://t.co/uG5xvzOqYP
📸 Wildatlanticimagesaok #killalabay pic.twitter.com/Prj91RVemQ
