36°01.062' N 014°17.310' E
36°01'4" N 014°17'19" E
Hephaestus-öljytankkeri upotettiin Xatt l-Ahmarin edustalle 40 metrin syvyyteen 29.8.2022 vedenalaiseksi nähtävyydeksi. Togolle rekisteröity Hephaestus on noin 60 m pitkä ja 8 m leveä alus.
Hephaestus haaksirikkoutui Qawra Pointiin 10. helmikuuta 2018. Alus oli ankkurissa lähellä Is-Sikka l-Bajdana tunnettua aluetta suunnilleen 3 km päässä rannikosta, kun se alkoi raahata ankkuria kovassa myrskyssä ja ajelehti suoraan kohti rantaa. Tuntia myöhemmin noin kello 6:15 aamulla Hephaestus ajautui kiville. Öljytankkerissa ei ollut rahtia, ja seitsemän hengen miehistö selvisi vahingoittumattomana.
Puoli vuotta myöhemmin 15. elokuuta 2018, tarvittavien tilapäisten korjausten jälkeen, Hephaestus vedettiin kiviltä kahdella hinaajalla ja hinattiin Marsan telakalle. Pahasti vaurioituneen aluksen korjaaminen olisi turhan kallista, joten se joko upotetaan sukelluskohteeksi tai myydään metalliromuna.
Gozolla on ennestään kolme suosittua sukeltajille upotettua hylkyä Xatt l-Ahmarissa kaakkoisrannalla: Karwela, Cominoland ja Xlendi.
Lisätietoja sukelluskohteesta Hephaestus
Wrecksite.eu - M/S Hephaestus
Times of Malta: Tanker wrecked in Qawra could become Gozo diving attraction (17th October 2019)
Safety investigation into the grounding of the Togo registered oil tanker Hephaestus
![Bridge [Pascal Pardoux] Bridge [Pascal Pardoux]](https://images.maltadives.com/uploads/217-7921-872.jpg)
![The Wreck [Pascal Pardoux] The Wreck [Pascal Pardoux]](https://images.maltadives.com/uploads/217-7921-870.jpg)
![Stern boat [Pascal Pardoux] Stern boat [Pascal Pardoux]](https://images.maltadives.com/uploads/217-7921-1172.jpg)
![The wreck [Pascal Pardoux] The wreck [Pascal Pardoux]](https://images.maltadives.com/uploads/217-7921-873.jpg)
![Bow of Hephaestus [Dora Farkas] Bow of Hephaestus [Dora Farkas]](https://images.maltadives.com/uploads/1-7921-774.jpg)
![Bow boat [Pascal Pardoux] Bow boat [Pascal Pardoux]](https://images.maltadives.com/uploads/217-7921-1179.jpg)
![Boat bow [Pascal Pardoux] Boat bow [Pascal Pardoux]](https://images.maltadives.com/uploads/217-7921-1178.jpg)
![Bridge [Pascal Pardoux] Bridge [Pascal Pardoux]](https://images.maltadives.com/uploads/217-7921-1177.jpg)
![Bridge [Pascal Pardoux] Bridge [Pascal Pardoux]](https://images.maltadives.com/uploads/217-7921-1173.jpg)
![Stern boat [Pascal Pardoux] Stern boat [Pascal Pardoux]](https://images.maltadives.com/uploads/217-7921-1171.jpg)
![ [Matjaz Repnik] [Matjaz Repnik]](https://images.maltadives.com/uploads/15-7921-917.jpg)
![Engine room [Matjaz Repnik] Engine room [Matjaz Repnik]](https://images.maltadives.com/uploads/15-7921-1185.jpg)
![Bridge [Pascal Pardoux] Bridge [Pascal Pardoux]](https://images.maltadives.com/uploads/217-7921-1176.jpg)
![Bridge [Pascal Pardoux] Bridge [Pascal Pardoux]](https://images.maltadives.com/uploads/217-7921-1175.jpg)
![ [Matjaz Repnik] [Matjaz Repnik]](https://images.maltadives.com/uploads/15-7921-920.jpg)
![ [Matjaz Repnik] [Matjaz Repnik]](https://images.maltadives.com/uploads/15-7921-919.jpg)
![ [Matjaz Repnik] [Matjaz Repnik]](https://images.maltadives.com/uploads/15-7921-918.jpg)
![ [Matjaz Repnik] [Matjaz Repnik]](https://images.maltadives.com/uploads/15-7921-916.jpg)
![ [Matjaz Repnik] [Matjaz Repnik]](https://images.maltadives.com/uploads/15-7921-915.jpg)
![ [Matjaz Repnik] [Matjaz Repnik]](https://images.maltadives.com/uploads/15-7921-914.jpg)
![ [Matjaz Repnik] [Matjaz Repnik]](https://images.maltadives.com/uploads/15-7921-913.jpg)
![Hephaestus shipwrecked at Qawra Point [Morgan Jennevret] Hephaestus shipwrecked at Qawra Point [Morgan Jennevret]](https://images.maltadives.com/uploads/3-7921-511.jpg)
![MT Hephaestus [Harri Itkonen] MT Hephaestus [Harri Itkonen]](https://images.maltadives.com/uploads/3-7921-510.jpg)
![The bow of M/S Hephaestus [Matjaz Repnik] The bow of M/S Hephaestus [Matjaz Repnik]](https://images.maltadives.com/uploads/15-7921-1186.jpg)
![Mast [Pascal Pardoux] Mast [Pascal Pardoux]](https://images.maltadives.com/uploads/217-7921-1180.jpg)
Kommentit ja arvostelut
★★★★★ Done from shore by CCR....short swim around 10-15 minutes. Area anyway lovely to explore. Wreck is great, engine room especialy. Litlle disapointed since is no plopeler in place ;) Area on way back with two nice caves, but be carefully right one is really silt way. Cliff for returning is perfect for deco mode to be done...Cool to shot buoy on end of dive, since big boats come in gulf.
★★★★★ It is possible to reach the buoy and the lifeline by swimming - The wreck does not present any particular difficulty - It is in good condition - The visit to the holds is done in complete darkness, a light is necessary
★★★☆☆ Nice wreck worth diving. Especially nice dive if combined with other attractions in the area. A bit too far from shore if diving OC with no scooters - plan for a boat dive.
Lyhyt osoite: https://maltadives.com/7921