KOTA KINABALU: The KM Kuraman, a decommissioned vessel which had been in service for 52 years with the navy and the Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency (MMEA), was sunk near Pulau Gaya here in a bid to turn it into a 'wreck dive' attraction.
The sinking ceremony of the 31.4 metre-long, seven metre-wide ship was witnessed by State Tourism, Culture and Environment Minister Datuk Masidi Manjun.
"Today is a bittersweet experience for me.
"We are sad to part with a maritime asset which has its own historical value.
“But we are happy, as its legacy continues as the first shipwreck for scuba diving within the Tunku Abdul Rahman Park," said Sabah and Labuan MMEA director First Admiral Mohd Zubil Mat Som.
Zubil added that the MMEA has conducted similar ship sinkings off Langkawi, Kelantan, Tioman and Perak, where the shipwrecks were found to be an effective way to create breeding grounds for fish.
Masidi said the vessel was sunk in a location deep enough not to interfere with Kota Kinabalu’s shipping routes, but not too deep (at about 20 metres) in order to allow divers to enjoy the wreck attraction.