(October 31st 2001)
Approval To Sink ex-Warship
The Government has given the go-ahead to the ambitious plan to sink a former Royal Navy warship off the south east coast of Cornwall to create an artificial reef.
A unique licence, created specially for this pioneering project, was issued by DEFRA today and has been welcomed by members of the Artificial Reef Consortium (ARC).
Once on the sea bed, say ARC, the former frigate HMS Scylla will act as a magnet to divers from all over Europe.
“We are aiming to place the vessel on the sea bed in the spring of 2003 which give us time to complete negotiations with government bodies, raise the funding and to ensure that we do a professional job preparing the vessel,” said John Busby, project leader.
ARC’s chosen vessel - the mothballed Leander class frigate, HMS Scylla – is still available for release but has not yet been put up for tender.
To prepare her for her new role she will be professionally cleaned and prepared as a diving platform for all types of diver. This means that all items with “snag potential” will be removed, hatches will be enlarged and facilities will be introduced for disabled, technical, recreational and learner divers.
To complete this project ARC will need to raise about £250,000. The project will culminate with a spectacular sinking ceremony which is expected to attract huge television and press coverage.
An international arts producer based in London is currently negotiating with ARC to take ex-HMS Scylla to London where she will become a platform for leading artists from around the world to create and display their work.
Rawia Edwards of Raw Productions says the largest ever collective of world artists will be brought together to turn the ship into a massive floating work of art. She is due to visit the ship soon and is researching paints which will be marine-environment friendly and which will be durable under the water.
Money raised by the arts project will also cover the cost of bringing Scylla back to Plymouth, which will help towards the cost of the reef project.
The aim is to position the 113-metre ship close to the James Eagan Lane, a World War Two liberty boat lying off Whitsand Bay. It is the most dived wreck in British waters but is now rapidly disintegrating.