Red Sea Wrecks sold for scrap

safagamarc

Hi all,

This has been a rumour for awhile now but disaster strikes and it looks like they be going ahead with it.

Anybody who enjoys abit of Red Sea wreck diving will be appauld to read the following.

At the moment 7 wrecks have been allocated for scrapping including the Thistlegorm and the Million Hope. The first 7 wrecks cost the company 600,000 L.E. in salvage rights (approx. 75000€). They will be starting salvage shortly so get yourselfs down on the link listed below

Just send an E-mail to the below listed link, this will then get you on the petition list

Red Sea News



Subject: Wrecks of the Red Sea problems



It has been recently brought to the attention of diving industry and related organizations in Hurghada that some wrecks located in the Red Sea have been sold for salvage rights.



As we understand many wrecks were applied to be bought by Egyptian contractor who has successful purchased the rights to salvage some of these wrecks from the Ministry of Transportation located in Red Sea - Egypt.



Our reasons against this contractor or any other individual or company being able to purchase these wrecks is outlined below:



1- The economic value of the Wrecks of the Red Sea Governorate (Ain Sokhnah to Sudanese Borders) is simply colossal. Wreck diving is a major attraction to visiting tourists and if these wrecks are destroyed then this revenue is at risk.



2- Damaging or destroying these wrecks will have an impact on the marine environment and ecosystem. This is not a renewal source and the marine ecosystem can take years to recover form such damage as underwater cutting tools and use of explosives to break up the wreck.



3- Large efforts are being made by diving center's and associated organizations in order to create new diving attractions such as artificial reef projects and the sinking of the wreck Hebat Allah.



By allowing any contractor to salvage the wrecks, all the efforts to positively educate and preserve the great natural resource of beautiful marine life that is here in the Red Sea is being contradicted at the cost of the local communities who depend on the red Sea for income.



We, the undersigned feel very strongly regarding this situation and ask that this matter receives your immediate attention. We would ask you to respond swiftly as this situation, should it become known internationally, is likely to create a phenomenal reaction amongst the diving community worldwide and will have a negative effect on the positive promotion of the Red Sea as a tourist destination.



Many thanks in anticipation of your reply.



Yours

Mohamed Habib

Environment Coordinator Committee





FOR A BETTER RED SEA

Red Sea Association For Diving & Watersports
Youssif Afifi Road Opposite Marriot Hotel
PO Box : 461 Hurghada - Red Sea - Egypt
Tel : +2 065 3 447243 - +2 065 3 444 802
Fax : +2 065 3 447209
Email association@redseaexperience.com
office@redseaexperience.com

iratnl

Is it April 1st today ?

mattmexico

Salam Aleikuum Mohamed Habib

Al Reis, fi Mushkala ..... To think that the wrecks could be sold as scrap and disregard the historic, environmental and economic value of such wrecks is just mind boggling and outragous. Out of poor judjment, short term monetary gains and corruption are born ideas and plans like that.

Every one on this list who has been diving the wrecks of the Red Sea knows what is at stake.

Holy Smoke .....

saludos
Matt

__________________
N 20' 37.617'
W 87' 04.693'
www.andreaswmatthes.com

Drmike

The commercial value of scrap steel off a sizeable wreck can be very considerable. When scrap steel prices rise (as they have been) suddenly wrecks that have been down for decades that were unecononimcal to salvage can become viable...and quite literally disapear :-)

I have recently been assisting a friend on a salvage job on the Igara (bloody huge bulk carrier) She was the largest ever single marine insurance loss in maritime history when she went down.

Drmike : photos : Igara - powered by SmugMug

The cargo (Iron ore) has been salvaged now - now attention is turning to the hull. Which sadly used to be covered in beautiful corals and home to many species

At 130,000dwt theres a good USD 10-13M of scrap steel value sat on the seabed with just this one wreck....how much gross tonnage is being considered in Red Sea??

Thats a lot of money in any part of the world. . ....but good luck with the petition :-)

If the salvagers have bought the salvage rights from the owners (insurance companies) I suspect theres sweet FA that can be done save the Gov. paying the salavagers what they would make in profits and buying them out.

Of course when the wrecks are not in international waters the Gov. could can make it hard for them to carry out salvage operations...as can happen in places like indonesia (where the Igara is) so naturally theres always some official/general/polititian ect whos on the payrole as 'adviser' to the salvagers :-)

but good luck with the petition :-)

FWIW Its not uncommon to buy the salvage rights to a wreck (from the owner insurance companies) for a token sum (Say USD 2,500) on the condition that the insurance company gets a cut of the profits from the salvage. No matter how many tourists dive these wrecks I doubt any money is being fed back to the owners so its understandable they would be interested in the potential revenue.

__________________
Cave diving is a sport
Wreck diving is a sport
Diving in general is a sport

'Rebreather diving' is not a sport
its the delusional obsession with a highly dangerous and often inappropriate piece of equipment

mattmexico

yo

......At 130,000dwt theres a good USD 10-13M of scrap steel value sat on the seabed with just this one wreck....

Whow .... that is indeed quite a bit of money. Had no idea ...

Saludos
Matt

__________________
N 20' 37.617'
W 87' 04.693'
www.andreaswmatthes.com

safagamarc

The latest info from the Red Sea.

> Dear All,
>
> Firstly, I would like to thank Mr. Mohamed Habib from the Red Sea
> Association for his concern regarding the issue of the alleged sale of
> the Red Sea shipwrecks. Since this issue has been opened once again,
> HEPCA has received many calls and emails from concerned parties. As
> such, I feel it would be beneficial to clarify the position as far as
> HEPCA is aware.
> This entire issue of wreck selling and cutting first came to the
> attention of HEPCA two years ago when we were informed that a 'genius'
> working in the Ministry of Transportation had come up with the idea of
> selling the shipwrecks of the Red Sea. At the time, I met personally
> with the 'purchaser' and explained to him that he had bought an
> illusion, for the following reasons:
>
> 1. 60% of the Red Sea wrecks are owned by insurance
> companies and cannot be touched by anyone, especially as they do not
> obstruct any navigation channels.
> 2. Most of these wrecks are not recoverable. It is cheaper
> and easier to purchase new steel sheets than attempt the impossible.
> Even if some of the steel is recovered, after 30 years underwater, it
> will be corroded and useless.
>
> As far as HEPCA is aware, the only current salvage operation in the
> Red Sea is the removal of 'The Million Hope' from the Straits of
> Tiran. This wreck has lain for ten years but poses great danger to
> divers and the coral reef on which is rests.
> According to the National Parks Authority of Ras Mohamed, removing
> this unstable wreck is the only chance for the reef, and its marine
> life, to survive. We do not actually see the reason behind evoking a
> dead issue after all these years, especially that nothing happened on
> ground.
> I would like to thank all the individuals and organizations that
> contacted HEPCA concerning this issue. It is fantastic to see the
> level of feeling for the conservation and protection of the Red Sea
> from our whole community - both local and international. This should
> add a great sense of purpose to all agencies responsible for the
> welfare of the Red Sea and its natural resources.
>
> With such support and dedication we are confident that we can all
> continue to succeed in our endeavours to preserve the treasures of the
> Red Sea.
>
>
> Amr Ali
> Managing Director
> HEPCA
>
> Hurghada Environmental Protection and Conservation association.
> Sheraton Road, Marriott Hotel
> Hurghada- Red Sea- Egypt
> P.O. Box 104 Hurghada- Red Sea- Egypt.
> Tel:+2 065 3445035
> Fax: +2 065 3446674
> info@hepca.com
> www.hepca.com