Malta’s newly scuttled wreck – The ex-Pasewalk P31 Patrol Boat
Under Malta’s mid-day summer sun, boatloads of people watched the scuttling of the Malta’s decommissioned Patrol boat P31. The smooth sinking process took about an hour before the ship finally settled on the bottom. The mast has been laid flat in order to provide 10 meters of clearance from the surface.

The P31 has been scuttled at Tal-Matz on the West coast of Comino, just around the corner from the famous Blue Lagoon. The P31, ex-Pasewalk, is the sister ship to the P30, ex-Ueckermunde, and the P29, ex-Boltenhagen, the later already scuttled in August 2007 just off Cirkewwa, on the north coast of Malta. The former East-German Kondor I class patrol boat was built in 1969 at Wolgast and like it’s sister ship, performed minesweeping duties along the river banks between East and West Germany, and between Germany and Denmark by East-German Navy. It was then transferred to Malta in 1992 where the AFM (Armed Forces Malta) attached a Quad 14.5 mm gun to the otherwise unarmed patrol boat to carry out her duties over Malta’s Continental Shelf. The 361 ton (full load), twin diesel 4000bhp, twin propeller was responsible for many offshore missions including patrolling the Continental Shelf, boarder patrols, anti-contraband missions and numerous rescue work.

Most notably was the rescue of 251 illegal immigrants from their 20 meter boat which was sinking 44 miles to the south of Malta in over force 6 winds which P31’s 20knt top speed helped to reach them. It was decommissioned in 2004 and bought by the Malta Tourism Authority who then funded everything from the planning to the actual sinking of the wreck. The 52 meter long and 7 meter wide vessel lying at 19 meters depth on clear white sands makes this wreck a great dive for both beginner and advanced divers not to mention great for free diving. It has been cleaned and doors removed so even penetration can be carried out safely if you are properly trained. Although not much life is on the wreck, it’s very close proximity to Poseidon sea grass will encourage the local marine life to settle on this latest wreck.

<< Back to Malta