Warship to become underwater museum and artificial reef in Maharashtra

Mumbai: In a historic step by the Government of India, the Indian Navy handed over a decommissioned landing tank ship, Guldar, to Maharashtra Tourism Development Corporation Limited (MTDC) to be converted into an underwater museum and artificial reef.

Internationally, the scuttling of decommissioned vessels as artificial reefs has become a well-accepted practice widely recognised for its dual benefits. This ecologically sound and economically viable approach is considered a responsible solution and a valuable addition to the local tourism economy.

Numerous countries have successfully transformed their decommissioned navy vessels into thriving underwater habitats, benefiting marine life and providing new recreational diving and fishing opportunities.

This practice not only preserves the historical legacy of these ships but also fosters the creation of sustainable ecosystems.

This is the first initiative of its kind in India to use a decommissioned ship of the Indian Navy.

Guldar, a Landing Ship Tank (Medium), was handed over by the Indian Navy 21 February 2025 to MTDC at Kawar on an ‘as is where is’ basis.

The MTDC has taken the ship under their charge to convert her into an underwater museum and artificial reef near the Nivati Rocks, off the coast of Vengurla in Sindhudurg District.

The conversion will be undertaken by MTDC and will involve complete cleaning of the ship to remove any potential pollutants/ hazardous materials, ensuring environmental clearances as per guidelines for marine conservation, obtaining various NOCs, and scuttling the ship at Sindhudurg, ensuring all safety precautions.

Guldar, a Polnocny-class Landing Ship, was built at Gdynia Shipyard, Poland and was commissioned into the Indian Navy on 30 December 1985.

The ship, as INS Guldar, was part of the Eastern Naval Command from 1985 to 1995 before being repositioned at Andaman and Nicobar Command, where she served till her decommissioning on 12 January 2024.

The ship rendered 39 years of yeomen service to the nation, during which she sailed for over 3,900 days and successfully conducted over 490 beaching operations to land Army troops ashore. The ship participated in various operations beyond her primary landing ship role, including Op Aman, Op Azad, Op Pawan and Op Tasha.

"The project to convert the ship into an underwater museum and artificial reef holds significant potential for showcasing marine conservation, creating livelihood opportunities for coastal communities and elevating India’s stature in underwater tourism. Moreover, beyond the environmental benefits, scuttling decommissioned ships as artificial reefs also preserves the history of the vessels for centuries to come. Each ship carries the stories of its service and the brave sailors who served on them," officials said.

By transforming a ship into an underwater museum and artificial reef, their historical legacy is immortalised, allowing future generations to learn about and appreciate its significance in India's naval heritage.

When a vessel is scuttled, it remains underwater for hundreds of years without any considerable maintenance cost. The submerged vessel creates artificial habitats for fish, corals, sponges, and sea fans. Within a year, they become an independent ecosystem like a coral reef. That's why such structures are called artificial reefs.