PLANS to scuttle the Honduran-flagged Demetrios II which ran aground on rocks close to the Paphos village of Chlorakas in stormy seas in 1998, as part of a marine tourism project have been scrapped, after a study found the ship had deteriorated into a rust bucket.
The study, requested by the department of fisheries, was presented to the Paphos regional board of tourism, the municipality of Paphos and the Diving association at a meeting.
Nassos Hadjigeorgiou, the manager of the local tourism board told the Cyprus Mail: “The study was to find out if the ship could be cut in half and sunk to form part of an artificial reef off the Paphos coast to be used by divers.”
It was hoped that state funding would be approved to scuttle the ship, which was built in 1964 in Hamburg, in order to create an attraction for divers from all over the world.
Hadjigeorgiou noted that the study had found that the shipwreck posed a danger and was so badly damaged by rust that it would be almost impossible to move it from the rocks where it ran aground. Furthermore, attempts to move the structure could cause it to break up into many pieces, which would cause damage to the area.
The ship is some 60 metres in length and weighs more than 900 tonnes.
He said: “If attempts were made to move and sink the ship, it could end up as a pile of dust, the rust is that bad. It would also be costly to try to clean the ship, prepare it, cut it in two and sink it. It’s not recommended.”
“As nobody knows when the ship could detach itself from the rocks and possibly end up on the beach, we are preparing a letter to the port authorities, who are the owners, to request that its moved as soon as possible.”
Demetrios II was carrying cargo from Halkida to Limassol in March 1998 and had a crew of eight when it ran aground. Four of the crew were Greek, two Pakistanis and two Syrians. The crew was lifted to safety by a British military helicopter.
The ship, meanwhile, was left stranded on the rocks, and has become a tourist attraction and local landmark.
Hadjigeorgiou said however the study revealed the dangers of permitting the ship to stay where it is, above sea level.
“It’s not floating in the water and it’s almost certain that in rough seas, coupled with strong winds or any sorts of bad weather conditions that it will become detached because it’s so rusty.”
But it’s not all bad news. The Paphos tourism manager noted that, “some media incorrectly reported that moves to build an artificial reef in Paphos had been abandoned but this isn’t the case. All that’s happened is that this ship won’t be used.”
According to Hadjigeorgiou, there will be a reef created in Paphos and the department of fisheries has now requested that all the parties involved come up with two or three alternative places to create a man- made reef.
“We have to put forward suggestions for a new site somewhere off the Paphos coastline between Paphos airport and Venus beach. In addition, the idea of the reef has also been expanded not only to include divers, but also snorkelers’ and swimmers,” he said.
There may even be a shipwreck included as part of this new plan but it will not be the Demitrios.
“Once an alternative site has been found, the department of fisheries will undertake an environmental and a topographic study. Once that is completed, which they say will be by the end of the year, work will commence immediately.”
Marine life takes about 2-3 years to develop, so Hadjigeorgiou is confident that Paphos will quite quickly be able to compete with other diving destinations.
“It looks as if we could have the new marine tourism attraction completed by next year and hopefully it will be the first of many,” said Hadjigeorgiou.
