Plans have been unveiled to create an artificial reef of the Dorset coast by sinking a Type-42 destroyer.
Weymouth and Portland Wreck to Reef, a non-profit community group, are seeking to obtain permissions to source and to sink a ship as an artificial reef off the coast of east of Weymouth and Portland, approximately 40 miles from Bournemouth, to encourage divers to the area.
Weymouth and Portland have seen major decline within the diving industry in recent years and the group are hoping the Regional Development Agency will help fund the estimated £1m project costs. It is hoped a destroyer could be obtained for about £130,000, decommissioned and sunk by the end of next year.
The concept of artificial reefs is not a new one. The Japanese were doing it 400 years ago and, to this day, still investing the equivalent of the UK annual military budget on developing artificial reefs along the Japanese coastline.
Neville Copperthwaite, project leader from Wreck to Reef, said: “This would bring back people and bring money into the area. There are a lot of hurdles to get over but I am confident.” Local councils have been positive when consulted while the Crown Estate has no objections to the scheme.
Portland Port Authority, which has jurisdiction for the waters, said it would not comment on the plans. But a spokeswoman added: “It is very early stages. There is a whole variety of people that need to make decisions on this and we have our own policy.”
A spokesman for the Environment Agency said it had not been approached about the idea but would be keen to advise before any decision was reached.
Bournemouth Breaks | Bournemouth Hotel Offers | Bournemouth Tourist Attractions
