Cargo vessel · lost 2024 · Mayo, Ireland

MV Shingle

She was a smuggler before she was a reef. In 2014 the Irish Revenue Commissioners detained the MV Shingle with 4.5 tonnes of tobacco and 32 million cigarettes on board, a cargo representing EUR 14 million in lost tax revenue.

On 18 September 2024 she was sent to the bottom of Killala Bay on purpose as Ireland's first purpose-built artificial reef, once her 60-metre, 42-year-old hull had been cleared of all asbestos and pollutants. Storm Eowyn struck on 24 January 2025 and split the wreck into bow, stern and midships sections, which now lie 25-200 metres apart, so there are three separate pieces of wreck where there was one.

Barnacles have grown quickly over all of them and fish have already moved in. She lies at approximately 29 metres. The project was a cooperative venture between Killala Bay Ships 2 Reef, the Revenue Commissioners, and Mayo and Sligo County Councils.

Type
Cargo vessel
Lost
September 18th, 2024Deliberately sunk (artificial reef)
Length
60 m
Depth
29 m
Location
Mayo, IrelandAtlantic Ocean

1 of 5 facts above is cited in Sources below.

Deeper than 87 of the 185 wrecks on the map with a recorded depth.

History and LossLost September 18th, 2024 · Deliberately sunk (artificial reef) · Mayo, Ireland.

Once a Moldovan-registered cargo ship, the MV Shingle came into the hands of the Revenue Commissioners in 2014, when she was seized with 4.5 tonnes of tobacco and 32 million cigarettes aboard, worth approximately EUR 14 million in potential lost tax revenue.

After every trace of asbestos and pollutants had been taken out of the 42-year-old vessel, she was sunk deliberately on 18 September 2024 as Ireland's first artificial reef. The scheme was a cooperative venture of Killala Bay Ships 2 Reef Ltd (KBS2R), the Revenue Commissioners, and Mayo and Sligo County Councils. On 24 January 2025 Storm Eowyn broke the wreck into three sections.

Lost September 18th, 2024, Deliberately sunk (artificial reef).

Condition of the WreckIntact, in 29–29 m.

Intactness

She went down in one piece in September 2024, but on 24 January 2025 Storm Eowyn split her into three separate sections, tearing the bow and the stern away from the main body of the ship. Two of the pieces lie approximately 25 metres apart, and the third is a further 200m away. Barnacles have spread quickly over all three, and fish have settled in among them.

Notable Features

  • Ireland's first purpose-built artificial reef
  • Broken into three sections by Storm Eowyn (Jan 2025)
  • Rapid marine colonisation — barnacles and fish
  • Former smuggling vessel seized with 32 million cigarettes
  • Cooperative venture: KBS2R, Revenue, Mayo and Sligo councils
  • All asbestos and pollutants removed before sinking

Additional Details9 further fields held for this wreck and not shown above.

Propulsion
Diesel
Loss date
September 18th, 2024
Latitude
54.22° N
Longitude
9.20° W
Water body
Atlantic Ocean
War grave
No
Protected
No
Permit required
No
Condition
Intact

Sources and VerificationEvery cited fact on this page traces to a published source.

A further 3 fields were derived from the wreck’s recorded position rather than taken from a source.

Licences and credits for the open data used on this site are on the Attribution page.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the MV Shingle?

MV Shingle is the wreck of a cargo vessel, off Mayo, Ireland, at 29 metres. MV Shingle was deliberately sunk in 2024.

How deep is the MV Shingle?

MV Shingle lies at approximately 29 metres, Killala Bay, over 4 km offshore, between Co. Mayo and Co. Sligo.

How did the MV Shingle sink?

MV Shingle was deliberately sunk on September 18th, 2024, off Mayo, Ireland.