SHIPWRECK CITY Project Gets Green Light

Five shipwrecks to be sunk in the waters surrounding Grand Cayman and Little CaymanGrand Cayman - The Cayman Islands will have a brand-new underwater attraction for 2003. The Honorable McKeeva Bush, Leader of Government Business and Minister for Tourism, Environment, Development and Commerce recently announced that the Government will provide funds to kick start a project known as Shipwreck City.
The Shipwreck City initiative, which involves the sinking of five ships in the waters around Grand Cayman and Little Cayman, is the brainchild of the watersports operators of the Cayman Islands and has been developed over the past two years. After consulting with members of the Cayman Islands Tourism Association and the Department of Tourism, the Hon. McKeeva Bush agreed to redirect some of the Department of Tourism's dive marketing funds to this product development initiative, which is expected to deliver the much-needed shot in the arm for the Cayman Islands tourism industry. The Minister is in contact with the United Kingdom Ministry of Defense to secure a British war ship with historic connections to the Caribbean as the potential first ship of Shipwreck City. The Hon. McKeeva Bush said, "The Cayman Islands is in need of new and exciting attractions to bring visitors here. We have reached the peek of our tourism life cycle and it is high time to rejuvenate our product offerings if we are to maintain our international leadership role in the diving and snorkelling markets. Shipwreck City will bring great benefits for all involved in the travel industry, as those who will come to dive and snorkel the new wrecks will fly here, rent accommodations, visit our fine restaurants, as well as renting cars and visiting our many other land based attractions. The wrecks will also be popular snorkel spots for cruise passengers and provide an additional attraction for submarines". It is envisaged, that the first ship will be sunk on the West Side of Grand Cayman, where the cruise ship, Rhapsody ran aground several years ago. The site has the ideal ground composition, size, depth and location and is in need of an artificial reef since its natural reef was destroyed. Nancy Romanica, CITA Watersports Director and Shipwreck City Project Manager said "In addition to providing a popular underwater attraction for our visitors, shipwrecks also offer great opportunities for scientific studies for artificial reef development and fish colonization and bio-diversity studies. A number of very reputable scientific research units have already expressed their interest in working with the Cayman Islands to push forward the border of knowledge for marine research and conservation." To develop a permanent revenue flow for ongoing maintenance, research and conservation efforts, as well as funding additional wrecks, it is planned to introduce a "per person visitation fee" charged to all watersports operators for taking visitors to the wreck. Gina Ebanks-Petrie, Director of the Department of the Environment commented ''We have been advising the Shipwreck City Project Team over the past two years and have provided them with guidelines that would need to be met for the sinking of any ships. These include size of the vessels, hull structure, depth requirements for stability, proximity radius to existing coral reefs, cleaning requirements for oils, grease, pollutants and general provisions for ongoing maintenance for future years and generations. A Dept of Environment representative will remain on the project team throughout the entire process.'' The Hon. McKeeva Bush concluded "there is no better year than 2003 to inaugurate Shipwreck City, especially with sinking a British ship as a monument signifying our historic links to the United Kingdom. With the commencement of this project during our quincentennial anniversary year, we are celebrating our past, our present and most importantly, our successful future." For more information about wreck diving in the Cayman Islands, click on the home page below...