12 years after 32 million smuggled cigarettes were seized on it, ship now hosts barnacles, fish and divers

A ship seized with 32 million illegal cigarettes in 2014 has turned into an artificial reef off Ireland's coast. Barnacles, sponges, sea squirts and fish are now living on it.

The 197-foot MV Shingle was intercepted while sailing from Slovenia towards Drogheda in Ireland, according to a TOI report. After legal proceedings, Irish authorities took charge of the Moldovan-registered vessel. They first hoped to sell it. But rust and asbestos on board made scrapping it too costly.

The ship stayed tied up at Dublin Port for about nine years. Berthing fees and repair work cost over €2 million, or about $2.24 million at current exchange rates.


In 2024, the vessel was cleaned as per regulations and deliberately sunk about 2.5 miles off Killala Bay, on Ireland's northwest coast. It now lies about 98 feet (30 metres) below the surface. Underwater footage shows marine life gathering on and around it.

Councillor Michael Loftus of the Killala Bay Ships to Reef Group said the plan was to improve diving and boost biodiversity. "We've been very fortunate that we've seen the results of it with the fish life on the wreck," he said. Porpoises and dolphins have also been spotted in the bay, he added.

Marine ecologist Dr Jose Maria Fariñas-Franco of Atlantic Technological University said the growth is impressive for the time the wreck has spent underwater. "It's quite impressive to be honest," he told RTÉ. Some parts of the ship are still bare, while others are further along in colonisation.

He explained that barnacles and worms settle first, followed by species such as sea squirts. As more organisms arrive, they create food for other animals. This is why fish are drawn to the wreck, he said.

"Artificial reefs become like real estate in marine areas," Fariñas-Franco said. He added that the Shingle will not become the same as a natural reef, and that its transformation will take time. He also said sinking ships should not be the default way to dispose of them, but when managed properly, artificial reefs can add habitat and boost biodiversity.

The wreck is also drawing people. Anna Connor, head of the Ballina Municipal District with Mayo County Council, said the site gets about 12,000 visitors a year. She said they come through the year, not just in the peak summer season.

"In ecological terms, in nature, things take time," Fariñas-Franco said.

(With inputs from TOI)