Why is the "ghost ship" Sheng Li only sold for scrap and not sunk for tourism?

(NLDO) – The company that proposed the project to sink the Sheng Li tourist ship in Con Dao expressed regret when the ship was auctioned for scrap.

On September 27, speaking with a reporter from Nguoi Lao Dong Newspaper, Mr. Ngo Tuan Tu, Director of Amadive Tourism Services Company Limited, said that his company did not participate in the auction of the Sheng Li ship because according to regulations, there are only two ways to dispose of the ship: destroying it and selling it as scrap, but not sinking it for tourism purposes.

"I regret that if deployed as proposed, the Sheng Li ship exploited for tourism could bring in value many times more than the auction price (the announced starting price is 1.7 billion VND).

Instead of selling scrap once, sinking ships for tourism purposes can create a stable and long-term source of income for the locality. The project not only brings profits to diving tourism businesses but also creates high-quality jobs for local people, contributing to promoting a sustainable economy ," said Mr. Tu.

According to Mr. Tu's analysis, the world's recreational diving tourism industry is estimated to be worth 3.2 billion USD per year. However, the proposal to sink the Sheng Li ship for tourism purposes was rejected due to lack of regulations.

As reported by the Lao Dong Newspaper , the refrigerated cargo ship named Sheng Li, which is currently in the storm shelter area for fishing vessels in the Con Dao special zone in an abandoned state, has been successfully auctioned. However, the organization or individual who wins the auction of the Sheng Li ship's assets can only use it to recover scrap, not to convert it for use, or to use it for other purposes.

Sheng Li cargo ship

Before the Sheng Li ship was auctioned, Amadive Company sent a document to the Ho Chi Minh City Department of Tourism and related units, proposing a project to sink the Sheng Li ship to create a high-class diving spot in the Con Dao area. This will help attract domestic and foreign tourists, develop green tourism, and aim to experience nature in Con Dao.

However, in the document of the Department of Agriculture and Environment of Ho Chi Minh City responding to Amadive Company, it is stated that the proposal to sink the Sheng Li ship is not in accordance with Decree No. 05/2017/ND-CP on handling sunken assets on inland waterways, seaport waters and sea areas of Vietnam. Based on current regulations, there are only two forms of handling the Sheng Li ship: destruction and sale, not sinking.

Notably, in addition to the lack of legal basis to sink the ship, the proposal of Amadive Company also caused controversy in public opinion. Some opinions said that Sheng Li is just an ordinary cargo ship, without any historical or cultural value or carrying a story of profound significance to exploit tourism. Meanwhile, the marine ecosystem in Con Dao has many other values ​​for diving: coral, sea turtles... especially associated with the natural ecosystem that needs to be preserved.

"Intentionally sinking a ship (even if it has no economic value) must be licensed by the Ministry of Transport, the Ministry of National Defense, the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment, and local authorities. It must be proven that the sinking does not cause pollution (removing oil, chemicals, toxic materials before sinking). Ensure that the ship is anchored and does not drift with the current" - a tourism expert said.

Source: https://nld.com.vn/vi-sao-tau-ma-sheng-li-chi-ban-phe-lieu-khong-duoc-danh-chim-de-lam-du-lich-196250927104451231.htm