Bermagui boaters warned to watch for floating debris
A grounded fishing vessel at Bermagui creates a navigation hazard as the clean-up continuesBoaters are being urged to stay well clear of a fishing trawler that has run aground near Bermagui as the mission to remove it becomes a complex salvage operation.
The 18-metre, almost 40-year-old timber longliner Salvatore V ran aground at Haywards Beach, 4.0km north of Bermagui, late last week. The boat was heading back to port with four people on board when it ran out of water.
NSW Maritime warned that debris from the stricken boat still could be floating in the water around the area where the salvage – the boat will now need to be broken up rather than refloated – will take place later this week if conditions permit.
“NSW Maritime is leading the coordination of the salvage and working closely with the owner of the vessel, the appointed salvage contractor and insurer to develop a salvage plan to ensure the safe and timely removal of the vessel and debris,” NSW maritime executive director Mark Hutchings said.
First priorities
“The first priority in salvage operations like these is to remove any fuel and pollutants on board to minimise pollution impacts on the environment,” Hutchings said.
“The salvor successfully did this on Friday last week by removing 3000 litres of diesel.
“Given the state of the vessel, it will not be able to be re-floated. Instead it will need to be broken up and removed using heavy plant and machinery.”
The boat already has a 30-metre land and water exclusion zone declared around it, although some larger items including the fuel tank, foam insulation, timber, floats and other fishing equipment had already washed ashore after coming adrift.
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