Two retired ships find their new home beneath the waterline
October 31, 2020Two retired Sri Lanka Navy (SLN) Ships, ‘Weeraya’ and 'Jagatha' buried deep below the waterline recently, have found their new home creating an alluring fish breeding ground off Trincomalee.
The Eastern Naval Command spearheaded the memorable project to sink the decommissioned duo of ships which certainly will convert themselves into artificial ridges that would lure future divers.
It is a well-known fact that shipwrecks are prime fish breeding grounds and most artificial reefs have attracted marine life in its lifespan.
Afterwards, many species of fish seek shelter in such deliberately buried underwater structures.
SLN assures, all their reusable mechanical parts were carefully removed and they were cleaned of all toxic components, so that no environmental pollution could occur.
Ex - ‘Weeraya’ (P 311) has found her new home in the seabed between Rocky Point and Sandy Bay in Trincomalee and Ex - ‘Jagatha’ (P 315 ) is also rested close to her decommissioned partner, SLN said.
According to SLN two ships were positioned about 25 metres northeast of the second underwater museum in Sri Lanka, which was declared open by the Navy last July off the coast of Sandy Bay and it is expected that the fish breeding environment that has already been created at the underwater museum will be further extended to the artificial reefs of Ex - ‘Weeraya’ and ‘Jagatha’.
SLN hopes that this new marine ecosystem, which is blossoming in leaps and bounds off the coast of Sandy Bay, will be a great opportunity for the fishing community in the area to reap greater economic benefits in the future as well as to attract more tourists to the Eastern Province in future.
