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Zonqor Point Project (Scuttling of two small Tugs)

Project Profile (PA PERMIT No: 4931/95 & amendment PA permit No: 1401/98)  

These tug boats one a Tanac Type “St Michael” 20 meters in length  built in 1944 by a Canadian Company & the other 16 meters long, Melita Type” number 10”  saw  many years of service towing numerous other ships around Grand Harbour , they were laid up at Jetties Wharf  and subsequently sunk at their mooring. They have been partially submerged ever since for many years.

The main objectives behind this project where:- 

1.      To Enhance Zonqor Point for Scuba diving.

2.      Shift the impact of divers from congregating mainly at Cirkewwa (Malta’s main diving site)

3.      The wrecks of these two tug boats were scuttled on a flat sandy bottom, free of posidonia and at a depth of 21 metres.  At this depth most divers from beginners to advance level are able to dive these wrecks.

4.      Marsascala Bay is also sheltered from North West Wind, this feature is very important for Scuba Diving in Malta, since the main diving sites are unsuitable for diving when confronted by a strong North Westerly sea swell

The lifting of the boats from the foul water in Marsa, the cleaning of the boats & preparations to tow these tugs to Zonqor Point followed by the scuttling operation was directed by Mr. Charles Cassar (Director for Cassar Group).   Divers on the other hand prepared the tugs to make them diver friendly by removing all visible  hazards to divers, such as the  removing of all glass, doors, hatches and by clearing and opening up passage ways so that divers can not get caught or get trapped should any diver decide to enter inside these small wrecks.

The Malta Marine Foundation will act as caretakers of these two small wrecks. The Foundation will now put together a monitoring program to manage these wrecks, their main concern is to try and reduce as much as possible fishing activities from these wrecks.  These two wrecks lie on GPS co-ordinates N 35’ 51.96 / E 014’ 35.50