SHINGLE

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Latest news

Decision awaited regarding scuttling of Shingle as Ireland's first artificial reef

A tourism project in County Mayo is waiting to hear if a decision will lead it to receiving a licence to tow the 'Shingle' into Killala Bay as part of a plan to create an artificial reef. The ship was centre-stage in 2014 when Irish authorities seized the ship in a major smuggling operation at Drogheda Port. In the last five years, the Killala Bay Ships 2 Reef Ltd. has been working to get the 'Shingle' towed to Killala Bay, to enable the 42 year-old ship to be sunk and create what would be the first artificial reef in Ireland. On the River Barrow the 60m ship went into the dry dock at New Ross Boatyard on April 9, 2024. The facility downriver of the County Wexford inland port of New Ross, is where the vessel is to be either scrapped or prepared to be towed to Killala Bay for sinking. To proceed with such an action, the Killala Bay Ship 2 Reef, requires a Maritime Area Consent (MAC) licence from the Maritime Regulatory Authority (MARA). Last November, an application was submitted, but a decision is awaited. The Councillor Michael Loftus was hopeful about the MAC licence. “The Revenue Commissioners have been working with us to get the best outcome for the Shingle, creating Ireland's first artificial reef that will generate a major attraction and financial benefit in Mayo and Sligo. It would be a major mistake if the Shingle were to be scrapped because of a delay in getting the MAC's licence from MARA. Time is running out.” It was almost a year ago when the 'Shingle' was finally towed out of Dublin Port from where it had been idle for almost a decade, following the vessel's relocation from the County Meath port. Report with photo: https://afloat.ie/watersport/diving/item/62815-key-decision-awaited-on-plans-to-sink-ship-off-mayo-coast

Seized ship may become artificial reef

The 'Shingle' that has been languishing in Dublin Port for almost a decade is at the centre of a plan that is progressing to sink the vessel off the north coast of Mayo in order to create an artificial reef. The vessel was seized by Gardai and Customs officers when they discoveredit was being used in an illegal cigarette smuggling operation in 2014. It was impounded in June of that year when armed guards discovered a 4,000kg shipment of tobacco at Drogheda Port. The contraband was given a street value of €13 million. The smuggling incident which had also involved a Naval Service patrol vessel, Revenue Customs cutters and overseas law enforcement agencies, represented the biggest seizure of cigarettes in Europe that year. The ship had loaded the contraband in Slovenia and then called to Portugal before proceeding to Irish waters. Soon after the 'Shingle' was arrested and taken to Dublin for further examination. Initially the 'Shingle' in Dublin Port was allocated a berth within Alexandra Basin, then to the river bank at the North Wall Quay Extension before it returned to the basin. The 'Shingle' was offered free of charge by the Revenue Commission and there is a proposal to scuttle the vessel in Killala Bay. The project is to enable an artificial reef to be created and attract divers and tourists to the West. The vessel has now moved to New Ross, County Wexford, for repair works.

Seized ship may be sunk as dive wreck

Revenue Commissioners have offered the "Shingle" to be sunk in Killala Bay as part of a plan to attract divers to the area. Revenue have offered the confiscated boat for free. Councillor Michael Loftus has been pushing for the project for some time now. Given its location, it would be a joint Sligo/Mayo venture. A feasibility study has already been carried out on the project. The "Shingle" was seized by customs officers in June 2014, when armed gardaí found a shipment of over 32 million cigarettes and 4,000kg of tobacco at Drogheda Port. The operation followed months of work and the consignment would have represented a loss to the Exchequer of almost €13 million if it had been sold on the black market. The ship was subsequently transferred by Revenue to Dublin Port, where it remains almost five years later because of the State’s inability to dispose of it. To date, over €400,000 has been incurred by Revenue over the holding of the vessel, the majority of which are lay-up costs charged by Dublin Port Company. Revenue was unable to do anything with the "Shingle" until legal proceedings in relation to the seizure had been completed. In June 2017, the High Court made an order of forfeiture of the ship to the State, which initially considered selling it. Last September a decision was taken to send the MV Shingle to a specialist recycling facility to be disposed after asbestos was discovered on board.