Um El Faurd Wreck DIve

Um El Faurd Wreck Dive

 

 

nine FS01 Sensitive Fluorescent Waterproof Mobile Phone Bag only $4.61

Um El Faroud was a 10,000 ton Libyan owned single screw motor tanker. Following a gas explosion during maintenance work in 1995, she was scuttled off the coast of Malta as an artificial reef and diving attraction. She was built in 1969 at Smith Dock Co. Ltd, Middlesbrough, England and was owned by the General National Maritime Transport Company, Tripoli (GNMTC). She had been operating between Italy and Libya carrying refined fuel. On 3 February 1995 while she was docked at the No.3 Dock of Malta dry docks an explosion occurred in No.3 centre tank and tragically nine shipyard workers lost their lives.

The vessel suffered structural deformation and, following inspection and survey, was considered a total write-off. She occupied the dock in the Valletta Harbour for three years until in 1998 it was decided that the best option was to tow her to sea and scuttle her as an artificial reef.

The wreck sits upright on the sandy seabed southwest of Wied iz-Zurrieq near Qrendi. Um El Faroud weighs 10,000 tons and is 115 metres (377 ft) long. The depth to the top of the bridge is 18 metres (59 ft) and 25 metres (82 ft) to the main deck. The bottom rests at 36 metres. The wreck can be entered fairly easily, but due to its size, this should be restricted only to divers with advanced wreck diving training. The vessel has a beam of 15.5 metres (51 ft); the height of the vessel from keel to funnel top is approximately 22 metres (72 ft). Following a Bad Storm in 2006 the she broke in two. While still being a relatively new wreck, it has become home to large variety of Sealife which include tuna, jacks, barracudas as well as squids.

The Um El Faroud is one of the most popular diving sites in the Maltese Islands and is a pleasure to dive on but caution should be taken as the area is sometimes prone to strong currents as encountered during one of our dives on the wreck.