Former smugglers’ ship sunk off Ireland to form artificial reef

It is hoped MV Shingle, intercepted in 2014 with 32m cigarettes onboard, will benefit marine life and tourism

The valves opened, the sea gurgled in and slowly, imperceptibly at first, the ship began its journey to the bottom of the Atlantic.

The 60-metre MV Shingle debuted in Ireland a decade ago as a smuggling vessel, but then became an unwanted hulk. On Wednesday afternoon it performed its swan song – scuttled off County Mayo to create an artificial reef.