Salvage operation for sunken boat at Lemon Tree Passage

MANAGEMENT from Albatross Marina were set to salvage the vessel which sunk at Lemon Tree Passage on Monday.

The 65-foot timber trawler began sinking about 100 metres off the marina at Lemon Tree Passage about 11am on Monday.

Fire and Rescue NSW crews, including a Hazmat boat, were called the scene about 12.45pm.

Booms were put in place to stop oil and diesel from spilling into the waterways.

A FRNSW spokeswoman said on Tuesday morning that crews left the scene about 5pm on Monday.

“The trawler was sitting on the bottom,” the spokeswoman said.

“A small amount of oil and diesel was contained by the boom.”

Albatross Marina at Lemon Tree Passage were expected to start a salvage operation on Monday night.

Mike Colecliffe, manager of Albatross Marina, said he was hoping to have the trawler out on Wednesday.

“We tried to get it out on Monday but things didn’t go according to plan,” Mr Colecliffe said.

“We’re hoping to have it out tomorrow [Wednesday].”

Flotation devices will be attached to the trawler to bring it to the surface again.

“As soon as it’s floating we’ll pull it out and slip it,” Mr Colecliffe said.

It is still not yet known why the boat sunk on Monday.

Mr Colecliffe said he had phoned the owner to tell him the boat had sunk on Monday. While naturally upset, the owner, who was out of the area at the time, was keen to understand why it had sunk.

EARLIER Monday:

FIRE and Rescue NSW crews are working to prevent up to 150 litres of diesel spilling into Lemon Tree Passage’s waterways.

Three FRNSW crews and a Hazmat boat were still at Lemon Tree Passage marina about 4pm, four hours after responding to reports a 65-foot vessel was sinking and spilling diesel into the water.

The vessel has the capacity to carry 150 litres of diesel on board.

It is moored about 100 metres off the marina.

A FRNSW spokeswoman said the Hazmat crew installed a boom shortly after arriving at the scene.

A Roads and Maritime Service (RMS) and a NSW Rural Fire Service (RFS) crew were also called to assist.

The RMS were expected to deploy more booms around the sinking boat to contain the diesel leak.

NSW EPA was informed about the spill.

Daniel McDonough, who was kayaking in the area about 11.30am, took photos of the sinking vessel.

FRNSW received reports about the sinking vessel and diesel spill about 12.45pm.

A FRNSW spokeswoman it was not yet known what caused the vessel to sink.