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Um Al Faroud
The Um El Faroud was intentionally sunk for divers in 1998 as part of a programme of wreck-sinkings around Malta and Gozo, planned to improve the islands' already renowned diving. It was built by Smith Dock of Middlesborough in 1969 and was operating as a Libyan tanker with her registered port Tripoli until her services were no longer required.
Rather than scrap her, she was offered as a dive site and came to Malta to be cleaned up and made safe for divers to explore. Sadly, nine Maltese workers lost their lives as trapped gas exploded while the ship was moored in the Grand Harbour in Valletta. It was a tragedy that affected the tight-knit Maltese community in which most people would know of one of the poor victims. There is now a plaque on the wreck commemorating them.
The Um El Faroud now sits upright on a clean, sandy sea floor. Its propellor lies in 36m of water and general depth on the deck is around 26m. Your first sight is of the stern looming out of the blue, you can see the whole of the aft accommodation and superstructure. She has a large forecastle with winches atop and anchor chains running out through the hawse pipes, although the anchors have been blasted off. The ship is 360ft long, amidships there is a huge crack where the ship has now broken in two. A large part of the deck is also missing as a result of the explosion, enabling divers to see inside. The stern accommodation is immense, with three levels above the deck. There are companionways to explore and stairways to ascend. The fin through the wheelhouse is a “must do”, and on exiting, the area above and behind also bears inspection. Divers can explore the funnel, the highest point of the wreck. A deck below, lifeboat davits hang out from the hull. At the stern, on the lowest deck mooring, bollards and winches can be viewed. The galley, with a large mixing machine in the corner and rows of ovens beside the doorway, is open for inspection
Rather than scrap her, she was offered as a dive site and came to Malta to be cleaned up and made safe for divers to explore. Sadly, nine Maltese workers lost their lives as trapped gas exploded while the ship was moored in the Grand Harbour in Valletta. It was a tragedy that affected the tight-knit Maltese community in which most people would know of one of the poor victims. There is now a plaque on the wreck commemorating them.
The Um El Faroud now sits upright on a clean, sandy sea floor. Its propellor lies in 36m of water and general depth on the deck is around 26m. Your first sight is of the stern looming out of the blue, you can see the whole of the aft accommodation and superstructure. She has a large forecastle with winches atop and anchor chains running out through the hawse pipes, although the anchors have been blasted off. The ship is 360ft long, amidships there is a huge crack where the ship has now broken in two. A large part of the deck is also missing as a result of the explosion, enabling divers to see inside. The stern accommodation is immense, with three levels above the deck. There are companionways to explore and stairways to ascend. The fin through the wheelhouse is a “must do”, and on exiting, the area above and behind also bears inspection. Divers can explore the funnel, the highest point of the wreck. A deck below, lifeboat davits hang out from the hull. At the stern, on the lowest deck mooring, bollards and winches can be viewed. The galley, with a large mixing machine in the corner and rows of ovens beside the doorway, is open for inspection