RM20m reefs from old ships

obmar · RM20m reefs from old ships

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2007/08/21
RM20m reefs from old ships
By : Sean Augustin
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KUALA TERENGGANU:

Two decommissioned foreign naval ships are poised to be sunk in Malaysian waters next year to create artificial reefs, the first of its kind here.
The ships, between 110m and 160m in length, will come from the United States and Canada and are scheduled to be sunk off Pulau Redang here and Pulau Tioman, Pahang.

It will be done simultaneously.

The project, estimated to cost about RM20 million, will be undertaken by the Kuala Terengganu Rotary Club and the B&J Diving Centre Sdn Bhd as well as the state government.

The Rotary club and B&J are looking to choose two from the three options made available, namely a US navy ship, a Canadian destroyer or a Canadian MARS class ship to be either donated or purchased with a minimal fee.
B&J, located on Tioman, has more than 20 years’ experience in professional scuba diving and scuba diving education.

The company is also a pioneer and expert in recreational and technical wreck diving.

Terengganu Rotary president Scott Steven said shipwrecks as artificial reefs had better benefits compared to other artificial reefs like reefballs or through the electro-deposition process, which have very little impact, both on marine ecology and the tourism industry.

Reefballs are ball-shaped artificial reefs made out of concrete, while electro-deposition is the process where a metal artificial reef is set under constant electric current to enhance coral growth.

Studies show that wrecks reduce the pressure of scuba diving on existing natural reefs by up to 20 per cent.

A well chosen site also means that there will be no negative impact reported on the existing natural reef.

Steven said a large ship wreck sunk intentionally as an artificial reef, provides shelter and protection for a myriad of marine species.

To date artificial wrecks (including several small wooden vessels in the vicinity of Pulau Tioman) are known to attract certain species, which do not find a stronghold on natural coral reefs.

These include frogfish, leaf fish, pipefish and moray eels.

He also said that with more fish being attracted to such reefs, a large artificial wreck sunk in a strategic place would encourage more people to dive in the area.

"This will augur well for Visit Terengganu Year 2008 as the shipwrecks will provide a new site for tourists," Steven told the New Straits Times.

Steven, a former military engineer, said the idea of sinking the ships came about as he was studying alternative methods for artificial reef projects for the club. At the same time, his friend B&J Diving Centre marketing and sales director Martin Ritter was working on the same idea.

"Then a mutual friend from the Malaysian Sports Diving Association got us together to collaborate on the project."

While Steven is confident of securing the vessels, he however needs to raise funds to tow the ships preferably before the monsoon season.

The funds will also be used to clean and sink the ships.

The Rotary Kuala Terengganu and B&J will work closely with local authorities and international advisers to ensure that international guidelines are followed.

"Right now we are liasing with the relevant government authorities like the Defence Ministry and the Natural Resources and Environment Ministry for their input," Steven said.