Malta with new shipwreck available for tourists. Why is the MV “Hephaestus” no longer sailing?

Malta is once again delighting diving enthusiasts. As of late, tourists have been able to admire the underwater corners of the Mediterranean Sea while experiencing the craftsmanship of modern boatbuilding.

[Photo by Maël BALLAND from Pexels]

You don’t have to be a scientist to explore sunken shipwrecks. Malta’s newest tourist attraction is not only for Mediterranean diving enthusiasts, but also those interested in the history and geography of the region.

What does the MV “Hephaestus” hide?

Sunk off the coast of Xatt l-Aħmar (Gozo Island), the tanker MV “Hephaestus” was used to transport oil. Its career ended prematurely in February 2018, after it ran aground off the coast of Qawra. The ship was unsuccessfully attempted to be repaired in Gran Harbor. 4 years later, the “Hephaestus” is underwater again. This time as a tourist attraction.

The vicinity of the Maltese Islands archipelago is home to trade routes through which, for centuries, Europeans have exchanged goods with Middle Easterners, among others. After the Roman onerarias, the late medieval cogs and the first steamers, the natural continuators of the region’s history are the modern commercial tankers. Such as, until recently, the “Hephaestus.”