Capsized boat washes ashore after 1300km journey
Boat lost near Sydney in 2020 ends up in northern Queensland, prompting a warning from policeQueensland Water Police have urged boaters to keep watch out on the water after a commercial vessel lost more than six months ago washed up on a beach 1300km away from where it disappeared.
The capsized twin-engined alloy commercial dive boat was found washed up on a beach at Facing Island on the entrance to Gladstone Harbour.
Police said investigations revealed the unidentified vessel belonged to a commercial diving business, and went missing after an incident more than 1300km south – that would place the position of its loss around Sydney – more than six months ago.
“It’s a timely reminder that skippers keep a proper lookout for objects in the water,” Gladstone Water Police officer-in-charge Sergeant Jeff Barnett said.
“Sea containers, ghost ships and other marine debris can cause serious damage or even sink small watercraft,” he said.
An attempt will be made to recover the lost boat.
Collisions with unidentified floating objects are common, with sailors competing in the recent Vendee Globe race reporting damage to their boats after hitting submerged obstacles.
One sailor even hit a fishing vessel within sight of the finishing line.
Not all the obstacles are man-made. In 2018, a man had to be rescued near Fraser Island after his boat hit a whale at high speed and broke in half.
The boat that washed ashore at Gladstone isn’t the most remarkable story of a vessel lost in Australia clocking up some big sea miles.
Last year, a Bar Crusher boat lost off Sydney washed up on a remote beach in northern New Zealand after a 2000km-plus journey.
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