Pencarian bangkai kapal. (Dok: Kementerian Kelautan dan Perikanan)
Shipwreck search. (While: Marine and Fisheries Ministry)

DENTUM booming in Tulamben, Bali. Just for a moment, Thick black smoke rises high in the sea. All of a sudden, seen the ship moving from the east. The movement is unnatural. pull over, then ran aground and was deposited to the bottom of the Tulamben Waters. Deposition is the process of sinking a ship to the bottom of the water until it is deposited into a shipwreck.

The rampage of the torpedo managed to sink the ship which was later known as the USAT Liberty Glo. There is a saga to the tragedy of the sinking of this ship. As told by eyewitnesses, I Nyoman Kariyasa, to Bali Express, The United States warship sank in 1942, when the tragedy of World War II took place.

Kariyasa who was then aged 7 years admitted that he saw it happen for himself. even so, he doesn't know whose ship it is, where and where is the ship going?. All he saw was a ship coming from the direction of Lombok.

Loaded with Historical Value

Data from the Yogyakarta Special Region of Archeology revealed that:, The United States warship of the cargo type was launched in 19 June 1918. Liberty came into use when World War I was almost over. Then it was used again during World War II, for the United States military logistics delivery.

While on duty from Australia to the Philippines, Liberty was torpedoed by the Japanese submarine I-166 which was patrolling the Badung Strait. Then the path stumbles. The crew and Liberty were rescued by two allied ships, USS Paul Jones and HNLMS Van Ghent to Singaraja.

But unfortunate, large holes due to torpedo shots made the ship enter so much water that it could not be salvaged. This “floating iron” finally washed up on Tulamben Beach. 20 years later Mount Agung erupted and made the ship dragged to the seabed.

Underwater Heaven

Decades later, the carcass of Liberty has changed into existence. The shipwreck is now a reef and home to hundreds of marine life. The mixture of metals on the Liberty Ship became the medium for corals in forming beautiful reefs. The beauty of coral reefs and the colorful marine life attached to the shipwreck is an underwater paradise for diving lovers.

Liberty is not the only warship and its valuable objects that "fall" into the sea and bring blessings to marine tourism. Data from the Directorate General of Marine and Fishery Resources Supervision (PSDKP) show there 464 Sinking Ship's Cargo Valuables (BMKT) from 21 area.

During World War II, many ships sank in Indonesian waters. His corpse became a silent witness to the Allied forces' enmity with the Japanese army in controlling the Asia Pacific region. Decades later, shipwreck and its cargo into an Underwater Cultural Heritage (CBBA).

Underwater Cultural Reserve (CBBA) is a cultural relic of the past that lies beneath the surface of the sea water, River, Minimum age lakes and swamps 50 years that have an important role for science, history and culture.

Just say it, Japan's Maru Ship, Japan's Hunter Lancaster Bomber submarine and cargo ship Hakko Maru all ran aground on Samalona Island. Add shipwreck in Talaud.

The historical value attached to this sunken shipwreck has great potential to become an underwater tourist attraction. Proven, conservation of shipwrecks covered in coral reefs has paid off sweetly, become a diving paradise that spoils the eyes as well as a place refreshing for traveler.

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