AMMAN - The problematic cargo vessel Shorouq, which ran aground in Aqaba over a year ago, will finally be laid to rest at the bottom of the Red Sea today.
The vessel, a sore point among environmentalists and officials since it was swept ashore by strong winds on March 6 last year, will be towed some 50 metres out to sea where it will be scuttled within the borders of the Aqaba Marine Park.
"The vessel's interior was dismantled and the oil and fuel substances from the tank were cleaned out by the concerned authorities; it is ready for sinking. We have given it our blessing," said Royal Marine Conservation Society (JREDS) Executive Director Fadi Sharaiha.
"It will be scuttled on a sandy area with limited coral reefs inside the Aqaba Marine Park, which we deemed to be an appropriate site, and expect it to settle at a depth of between 22-30 metres," he added.
According to the JREDS official, the fate of the vessel has finally been resolved favourably following an extensive and collaborative effort with port and maritime authorities, a host of representative NGOs and Aqaba Special Economic Zone Authority (ASEZA) environmental officials.
The 80-metre-long cargo vessel had presented environmentalists with a serious dilemma when its owner sold it to a scrap company.
They noted the ramifications on Aqaba's fragile eco-system and shoreline and also questioned current maritime regulations, which under the circumstances, should not have permitted the sale of the vessel.
Maritime authorities told The Jordan Times last year that at least three attempts were made to tow the vessel out to sea, but were hampered by bad weather conditions with winds up to 30 knots.
The owner then ordered a halt to the operation and decided to sell the vessel, a move that contradicted the Maritime Disasters Law, which says the owner of such a vessel can only sell if it is found to be unseaworthy.
An initial ASEZA investigation determined the vessel had no structural damage or oil leaks and should therefore be towed back to sea.
At the time, a Jordan Martime Authority (JMA) official told The Jordan Times that the court, without consulting the JMA, had appointed two experts who declared the vessel unseaworthy.
The official noted, however, that the inspections were not valid as the JMA licences of the two experts were restricted to inspecting damaged cargo.
Environmentalists concerned about the ecological impact and the vessel's proximity to hotels had rejected the findings and urged concerned authorities to remove it immediately.
They also noted that an amphibious vessel such as Al Shorouq, which is designed to come on land, could not have sustained any damage that could deem it unseaworthy.
But the tide turned in their favour when the Aqaba Court of First Instance issued a ruling in February this year instructing the Aqaba Ports Corporation to move the vessel to its dock and take the necessary measures to prepare the vessel for eventual sinking.
That order took into account procedures for the operation to be carried out in an environmentally safe manner, which included dismantling the vessel's interior and removing any toxic substances.
Sharaiha said the vessel's tank was cleaned out by a private sector entity commissioned by ASEZA and the Jordan Port Authority (JPA) under the supervision of JPA.
The paint, however, was not removed.
Although a toxic substance, the paint has a "limited impact on the environment", according to Sharaiha.
The JREDS official said he was pleased with the final outcome.
"It is the best decision that could come from a bad situation," he said.
"But the important thing is the lesson to be learned from what happened," Sharaiha added, noting that such an incident and the actions that followed made it crucial to reexamine maritime laws and regulations governing the transfer of ownership.
He also said the public should be aware of their "ethical responsibilities", which if ignored, as in this case, could have wide-ranging detrimental results that could harm a country's welfare and environment.
"We need to make sure that this will be the last time something like this ever happens," Sharaiha said.
"I can say that this incident has already prompted a positive step by the government, which is commissioning a legal adviser to revisit these laws," he added.
After it settles on the seabed of the Aqaba Marine Park today, the Shorouq will begin creating a conducive habitat for the eventual growth of coral and attract various types of fish in the area.
With the average growth of coral standing at 1cm per year, the process will probably take many years, but one day the sunken vessel could become an adventure and exploration site for curious divers and marine enthusiasts.
By Dalya Dajani
Jordan Times 2008
