Um El -Faroud Project

M/t Um El -Faroud was built in 1969 at Smith Dock Co. Ltd., Middles borough England and was owned by the General National Maritime Transport Company, Tripoli (GNMTC). It had been operating between Italy and Libya carrying refined fuel up to 1^st February 1995. On the 3^rd February 1995 it was docked at No.3 Dock of Malta Dry-docks. During the night of the 3^rd February an explosion occurred in No.3 centre tank and 9 shipyard workers lost their lives. The vessel suffered structured deformation and was considered following inspection and survey, a total write off. It had been occupying this dock ever since the explosion until it was decided that the best option to utilize its remaining value was to scuttle her as a diving attraction and to start a new life as an artificial reef.  The vessel measures 109.53 meters in length, its beam is 15.50 meters and the height of the vessel from keel to funnel top is approximately 22 meters. This vessel is a single screw motor tanker.

Photo Paolo Panazzi

All necessary preparations its cleaning process its accessibility for divers by removing all potential hazards which scuba divers may encounter were all taken care of by MDD employees.

The diving community chose Wied iz-Zurrieq as the best site to accommodate this vessel. A diving committee selected a flat sandy bottom 33 meters deep, 150 meters off the shore of Wied iz-Zurrieq as the ship’s final resting place. An Impact assessment was carried out over the seabed, and the site was marked. On 2^nd September 1998 Mt Um El-Faroud was towed out off Grand Harbor en route towards its final destination.  After the ship was anchored on location and kept in position by means of a small MDD tug, Um El-Faroud went under after nearly four hours long wait for the ship to fill up with sea water from 8 purposely fitted 4” sea valves.

This scene was witnessed by thousands of people who occupied vantage points on the shore who undoubtedly paid their last respects to those 9 Maltese workers who died on that tragic night.

The wreck of Mt Um El-Faroud  lies upright in position N 35’ 49.20 / E 014’27.04 stern closest to the inlet approximately 8 minutes normal underwater swim away from point of entry following a 270’ bearing. A two year monitoring program will keep a record of the transformation into this artificial reef.