An old tug boat was scuttled off Exiles, Sliema, this morning to begin a new lease of life as a diving attraction.

The vessel, cleaned of all oil and grease, was sunk onto the seabed 20 metres below the surface some 250 metres off St Julians and 389 metres from Portomaso breakwater in a project launched by the Professional Diving Schools Association in collaboration with the Malta Tourism Authority.

The operation had been previously postponed because weather conditions were not ideal. But the sea was perfectly calm today and there was hardly any wind.

The old vessel at first seemed reluctant to go when the scuttles were opened, but then sank quickly after an hour, resting in an upright position. People on the shore applauded and boats sounded their horns.

Tourism Minister Karmenu Vella, who was present for the scuttling, said diving was very important for tourism - bringing some 80,000 people to Malta, as many as the language schools. This was therefore important investment in the tourism product.

The 30-metre Tug 2 is the only diving attraction in the area, with the nearest being HMS Maori which was sunk in relatively deep waters off Valletta after the war and the X127 Water Lighter off Manoel Island. However, HMS Maori is slowly disintegrating and future access to the X127 Water Lighter is uncertain because of the ongoing development on Manoel Island.

Tug 2 been laid up at Bezzina shipyard for some 12 years.