Mumbai: In a pioneering conservation step for the country, the Indian Navy (IN) has handed over a decommissioned ship to Maharashtra Tourism Development Corporation (IN-MTDC), to be revived as an undersea museum-cum-artificial reef, officials said.
The IN’s ex-ship, ‘Guldar’ (Leopard) - a medium Landing Ship Tank built in Poland’s Stocznia Gdynia Shipyard - was passed onto the MTDC last week (Feb.21) in Karwar (Karnataka) in a first initiative in India to use a retired vessel for ecological-cum-tourism purposes.
The MTDC will now take up the task of ‘scuttling’ (sinking) Guldar at a suitable location off Sindhudurg in Maharashtra, after cleaning it up thoroughly as per maritime and environmental guidelines, and securing all other permissions from various authorities.
Commissioned into the IN on Dec. 30, 1985, Guldar was assigned to the Eastern Naval Command based in Visakhapatnam till 1995, then positioned at the Andaman & Nicobar Islands where she served for 39 years, till decommissioning on Jan. 12, 2024.
During her heydays, the 90-metre and 10-metre wide, Kumbhir Class Landing Ship ‘Guldar’ sailed over 3,900 days, conducted 490 beaching operations to land troops ashore and participated in various operations and exercises both during wars and peace time.
The MTDC project to convert her into a sunken museum and artificial reef could boost marine conservation, increase local fish stocks, help create more jobs to boost the economy, enhance India’s stature in underwater tourism, with many adventure sports already thriving in Sindhudurg and parts of the coastal Konkan region.
Beyond conservation, such aquatic structures provide shelter to a wide range of organisms and undersea creatures which would rapidly turn into a thriving marine ecosystem that can be preserved for long, the IN can conduct diving training at the ship, besides other advantages.
“These sunken vessels quickly become thriving underwater habits for marine life like fish, corals, sponges, sea fans and provide new recreational diving and fishing opportunities, helps preserve the ship’s historical legacy, while fostering sustainable undersea ecosystems that remain undisturbed for centuries without significant maintenance costs,” an IN official said.
The official further explained that scuttling decommissioned ships as artificial reefs help preserve their memories for many centuries as each such vessel has her own history and exploits of the brave sailors who served on it.
“By transforming ships into undersea museum-cum-artificial reefs, their historical legacy is immortalised, allowing future generations to learn about and appreciate its significance in India's naval heritage. From an environmental perspective, it is recognized that sunken wrecks can play a crucial role in enhancing the local ecosystem,” the official added.
An established practice worldwide, ‘scuttling’ of retired ships as artificial reefs is considered an ecologically sound plus economically viable practice adding value to the local tourism industry.
The MTDC would conduct detailed site surveys encompassing various parameters before sinking Guldar off Sindhudurg coast, though officials decline to indicate a specific timeline to complete the project, though she is likely to be towed to the proposed resting site in a couple of weeks.
The surveys would include the hydrographic and oceanographic aspects to ensure adequate depth and avoid navigational hazards for vessels sailing on the surface, analyse the local underwater currents and potential wave heights to ensure stability of the artificial reef structure.
Care would be taken to keep it away from areas with sensitive ecosystems, coral reefs, aquatic grass beds or habitats of endangered species, busy sea lanes, etc., yet making it a feasible site for diving or training purposes, plus the water clarity to provide the right environment for reefs to mushroom and other ecological considerations.
The seafloor strength and stability would be analysed to ensure it can support the vessel’s weight without significant alteration over time keeping in mid local strength and direction of undersea water currents, and its ability to withstand storms.
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