After
years in the planning, Europe's first artificial reef finally looks
like becoming reality.
Plymouth's National Marine Aquarium (NMA) has announced it has bought
HMS Scylla with funding from the South West Regional Development Agency
(RDA).
The
plan is to sink the frigate off Whitsand Bay in Cornwall for divers
to explore, as well as for it to be colonised by local species of
fish.
The
NMA has paid around £200,000 for the Leander Class Frigate
and it is hoped she will arrive in Plymouth in late October.
Work to
clean her up could be carried out in the city, with the aim of sinking
the ship in April 2004.
Mike
Leece, chief executive of the NMA, said: "I am delighted that
our bid has been successful.
"Our
immediate task is to finalise the plans for the vessel's tow to
Plymouth and the necessary work prior to its placement on the seabed
in April next year."
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| HMS
Scylla will be cleaned up before being sunk. |
The
NMA took over the Scylla project from the Artificial Reef Consortium
earlier this year.
Members
of the consortium have been retained as consultants.
The vessel
was taken out of active service in 1993 and has been used as a training
facility in Portsmouth Harbour since then.
It
was built in the late 1960s and was the last warship built in Devonport.
It
is estimated the project will add millions of pounds to the local
economy each year.
A feasibility
study conducted earlier this year, commissioned by the RDA, indicated
the sinking of the ship could turn Plymouth into a global centre
of diving expertise.
The
attraction would also increase opportunities for local businesses
through tourism, medical research, design, technology, science and
education, the study said.
First
published: 15th October 2003
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