A major salvage operation at Thames Wharf has now been completed after a large vessel strained against its mooring during severe weather earlier this month.
As Cyclone Vaianu bore down on the region over April 11-12, the vessel – the MV Gleaner – listed heavily onto its side, with part of its hull submerged as it pressed against the historic Thames Wharf.
Waikato Regional Harbourmaster Chris Bredenbeck confirmed the boat was successfully refloated last week on the incoming tide.
“It required dragging by specialist tow trucks into shallow water and significant volumes of mud in the holds and engine room to be slurried and pumped out,” he said.
“There was a setback at high tide [the night before] with a hole being discovered that required repair.”
Chris said the vessel was moved into a slipway, and preparation and planning was now underway for its dismantling and eventual scrapping.
“From here, the plan is to dismantle the vessel, and where it can be, it will be recycled with a scrap metal recycler. The vessel is of steel construction and the scrap metal value will help offset some of the costs involved,” he said.
Waikato Regional Council said it had contacted individuals linked to the previous ownership of the MV Gleaner, who advised they no longer owned the vessel, therefore legal ownership remained undetermined.
Council also said that while the work was ongoing, the precise cost of the salvage operation could not be known, but was expected to be in the tens of thousands of dollars.
“This type of salvage operation includes many unknowns, including the scrap value of the vessel,” Chris said. “The scrap metal value of the boat can only be estimated and cannot be confirmed until it is weighed by the metal recycling company. The weight of the vessel is estimated at 20-30 tonne.
“We will not be in a position to provide a firm cost until the salvage is complete and the scrap value is known,” he said. “We remain committed to ensuring the salvage is as cost effective as can be.”
Before the salvage operation, the MV Gleaner was underwater at high tide and partially submerged at low, and council earlier confirmed to The Profile that the vessel had not leaked any diesel or other hydrocarbons during the salvage effort, with Regional On-Scene Commander Celeste Davies-Calway, and Maritime Services monitoring the situation throughout.
BY KELLEY TANTAU
