A ship which was seized by Revenue after it was intercepted smuggling millions of cigarettes in 2014 is due in Killala Bay in north Mayo where it will be sunk.
The 60m MV Shingle, which was towed from New Ross as it can no longer sail independently, will become the country's first marine artificial reef when it is scuttled tomorrow, weather permitting.
An artificial reef is a human-created marine structure which is designed to enhance ecosystems.
The ship will be sunk by opening its valves, a process which will take around two hours, before it drops to the seabed 29m below, over 4km out in the bay.
Those behind the project say the man-made reef will attract divers to the area as well as helping marine biodiversity.
The €2 million project, which has been years in the making, is being carried out by a local campaign group - Killala Bay Ships 2 Reef - along with the Revenue Commissioners and Mayo and Sligo county councils.
The sinking will mark the beginning of the end of the ten-year Shingle saga.
The ship was intercepted in the summer of 2014, heading from Slovenia towards Drogheda in Co Louth, with 32 million illegal cigarettes on board.
After legal proceedings, Revenue took control of the vessel.
It had hoped to quickly sell it, but it was covered in rust and asbestos and scrapping it was deemed too expensive.
It was tied up Dublin Port for around nine years where it racked up fees of around €7,000 per month.
Last year, the ship was transferred to New Ross where fees were thought to be in the region of €4,000 monthly.
In total, just over €2m has been spent on the Shingle since it was seized, the majority of which - €1.5m - went on berthing fees, remedial works and maintenance.
Approximately €650,000 was used to pay for the removal of asbestos and residual oils from the vessel in preparation for its sinking.
Inside the MV Shingle - the costly ship that almost no one wants
The project has been spearheaded by Fianna Fáil Councillor Michael Loftus who described it as a "long and hard road".
He also defended the cost of the initiative saying that the money spent will be recouped within three years, and said a business plan is in place envisaging the opening of new dive centres.
Those behind the campaign say the artificial reef will become a significant tourist attraction and provide a boost to the sector in Mayo and Sligo as well as benefitting marine bio-diversity.
