Killala Bay, between Co Mayo and Co Sligo, is set to become the site of Ireland’s very first artificial reef, creating a marine life haven and international tourist attraction on the Wild Atlantic Way.
The former smuggling ship MV Shingle will be sunk on Wednesday, September 18 to create the artificial reef as part of an innovative cooperative venture between local group Killala Bay Ships 2 Reef Ltd., the Revenue Commissioners, Mayo County Council, and Sligo County Council.
Killala Bay Ships 2 Reef Ltd says that the MV Shingle hit the headlines in 2014 when it was seized by the Revenue Commissioners after 32 million smuggled cigarettes and 4.5 tonnes of tobacco were found on board with a potential loss of €14m to the exchequer.
June 24, 2014: Crates of tobacco being removed from the MV Shingle. (RollingNews.ie)
The 60-metre steel-hulled cargo boat has since undergone thorough preparations including environmental procedures making it eco-friendly and fit for purpose as an artificial reef.
Having undergone works and required surveys, the vessel departed New Ross and was towed to Killala Bay on Tuesday ahead of its sinking.
The scuttling of the MV Shingle will be live-streamed to a public event at the Ocean Sands Hotel Enniscrone in Co Sligo on Wednesday, weather permitting.
Ruth Kennedy, the Acting Director General of Customs and Revenue Commissioner, said: “Revenue has donated the MV Shingle to the Killala Bay Ships 2 Reef (KBS2R) group to support its efforts to create an artificial reef in Killala Bay to encourage biodiversity and tourism in the area.
"Revenue is very pleased to be involved in this unique and exciting project and congratulates KBS2R on the initiative.
“The vessel first came to prominence after it was seized by Revenue in June 2014 close to Drogheda Port during an operation that led to the detection and subsequent seizure of a significant quantity of cigarettes and tobacco aboard the vessel being illegally smuggled into the country.
"As part of court proceedings, in May 2017, the High Court made an order for the forfeiture of the MV Shingle to the Irish State. The ship has since remained in the custody of Revenue until today, as ownership has now transferred to the KBS2R group.
"Revenue wishes to emphasise our commitment to protecting our borders and we will use the full rigours of our enforcement powers to detain and seize product and conveyances used in attempted smuggling.”
KBS2R says that artificial reefs have been in use around the world since the days of the Roman Empire, initially to increase fish stocks and later for recreational diving. These deliberately sunk, manmade structures are quickly colonised by marine life, beginning within a few hours. Algae and coral are followed by a complex community of fish and larger marine life which is very attractive to both the diving and fishing communities.
The MV Shingle. (Killala Bay Ships 2 Reef)
Kevin Kelly, Chief Executive of Mayo County Council, welcomed the project saying: “Mayo County Council are delighted to be part of this exciting development in Killala Bay.
"The creation of Ireland's first marine artificial reef is a new and exciting initiative and is a testament to the power of partnership and the dedication of all involved in getting it to this exciting stage.
"The efforts of the Killala Bay Ships 2 Reef group in driving this project forward is commendable. We are particularly grateful for the support of our colleagues at Sligo County Council and our engineering partners.
"This reef will be of enormous benefit to Killala Bay and the county as a whole in a number of ways. This new artificial reef will not only enrich our marine environment, it will also provide exciting new opportunities for tourism, recreation, and marine research for years to come.”
Councillor Joe Queenan of Sligo County Council, Chair of the Tubbercurry/Ballymote Municipal District which includes Enniscrone, said: “We are so proud to have the first dedicated dive site such as this in our area and we recognise the enormous economic potential in terms of bed nights and local spend.
"We want visitors to come from all over the world to enjoy this dive facility and see and experience all the fantastic things we have in this area.”
KBS2R predicts that the Killala Bay artificial marine reef will become a significant tourist attraction, drawing tourists from all around the globe.
The site, the group says, responds to the need to create economically sustainable tourism playing to the strengths of the natural environment of Ireland and linking with the appropriate stakeholders as they invigorate the Blue Way and expand the offerings of the Wild Atlantic Way.
It is expected that this this project will bring a major tourism boost to both Mayo and Sligo creating employment in diving centres and boosting local tourism with increased bednights.
Killala Bay lies between counties Mayo and Sligo and both county councils were quick to see the potential for tourism development and back the project.
Killala Bay Ships 2 Reef Group has spearheaded the project from its inception in 2008 and their spokesman, Cllr. Michael Loftus, said, “This project of creating Ireland first artificial reef marine has been a long and hard road but with the cooperation of the Revenue Commissioners, Mayo and Sligo County Councils, MARA, Ocean Sands Hotel Enniscrone, and our Marine Engineers AYESA, Killala Bay Ships 2 Reef Group are looking forward to seeing the benefits this project will bring to Mayo and Sligo”.
He went on to thank New Ross Boat Yard and Meavagh Boat Yard Donegal for their work on this project.
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