Historic Japanese ship Onjuku submerged to create Articial Reef

Historic Oceanographic Ship Deliberately Sunk Off Tamaulipas

The oceanographic vessel ARM Onjuku, gifted by Japan to Mexico in 1978 as a symbol of maritime cooperation between the two nations, was deliberately sunk on Wednesday off the coast of Tamaulipas to become part of the Artificial Reef System of the Gulf of Mexico – or for the US, the ‘Gulf of America’

The operation was authorised by federal authorities, allowing the ship to slowly descend to the seabed through a controlled flooding system, where the metal structure of the old vessel will become a refuge for fish and corals.

Environmental Measures Taken Before Sinking

Before being taken to the bottom of the sea, the old ship underwent a specialised cleaning and environmental conditioning process.

Personnel from the Secretariat of the Navy removed machinery, wiring, waste, and potentially contaminating materials under the supervision of environmental authorities, with the aim of ensuring that its sinking did not pose risks to the ecosystem.

Former Research Vessel Begins New Role Underwater

For more than four decades, the Onjuku was part of the Mexican Navy, where it carried out scientific research, oceanographic monitoring, and support in studies related to meteorological and environmental phenomena. From its incorporation into active service in 1980 until its retirement in 2022, the vessel participated in missions focused on the knowledge and protection of Mexican seas.

With the sinking of the Onjuku, authorities aim to strengthen the Artificial Reef System of Tamaulipas, a project promoted by the Secretariat of the Navy and the state government to regenerate marine ecosystems and promote biodiversity in the waters of the Gulf of Mexico.