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4 Km West Of Colombo

MT Nilgiri

TRUG

SL/W/COLO/M/06

Year sunk
1997
District
Colombo
Depth
18.00–30.00 m
Vessel type
Utility Barge, Bulk Carrier

Overview

The Sri Lanka Ports Authority Utility Tug MT Nilgiri sank in 1997, during a fierce storm, while escorting a troubled ship to Colombo Port.

The shipwreck lies upside down. The upside down deck provides a large cavern that shelters pelagic and reef fish during the day. This site has one of the largest Lionfish populations in Colombo. Around the wreck, shoaling fish can be seen on occassion (Trevally, Snappers & Sweetlips)

As it is upside down, the wreck is somewhat featureles but at the stern the massive rudder and twin propellers can be seen. This is a popular dive site for tourists with Advanced Open Water certifiation.

The wreck has been relatively stabel compared to some of the newer wrecks in Colombo.

Bow 27 Mar 2010 © Dharshana Jayawardena / Ghosts of the Deep - Diving the Shipwrecks of SL
Nilgiri Tug 25 Feb 2017 © Rasika Muthucumarana
Site plan of the Nilgiri Tug 25 Feb 2017 © Maritime Archaeology Unit
Video 2 Mar 2017 © Rasika Muthucumarana

Location

District: Colombo

Province: Western

Depth profile

18–30 m

Protection & status

Access
None
Legal status
None
Threat
Corrosion
Threat
Deterioration

Vessel chronology

1997

Year sunk

1976 – 1997

Time period estimate

References & publications

  • Jayawadena, D. (2016) Ghosts of the Deep - Diving the shipwrecks of Sri Lanka, Vijitha Yapa Publications, Colombo, pp.42-50.
  • ප්‍රියන්දන රුක්ෂාන් ඩබ්.එච් (2014) බස්නාහිර වෙරළ තීරයේ මුහුදු පුරාවිද්‍යා ගවේෂණ, දලනිඳු, විද්‍යුත් පුවත් සරණිය, වෙලුම 06, කාණ්ඩය 03, ජූලි - ‍දෙසැම්බර් 2014, මුහුදු පුරාවිද්‍යා ඒකකය, මධ්‍යම සංස්කෘතික අරමුදල

Record provenance

Last updated
2021-05-24
Biodiversity survey
Incomplete

Data: National Shipwreck Database / CCF–MAU