The mammoth task to remove at least 60 containers from the seafloor off the coast of Newcastle is set to begin this weekend after the arrival of one of the world's most specialised commercial vessels on Friday.
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The M/V Pride, which Ardent Ocenia has hired to complete the recovery operation, arrived into the Port of Newcastle shortly before 9am on Friday after a long voyage from where it was last docked in Singapore.
The 130-metre long vessel will be docked in the port's west basin at Carrington while it takes on supplies and crew for the project.
The Newcastle Herald reported last week how the Australian Maritime Safety Authority was committed to starting the multi-million dollar project despite the coronavirus outbreak.
It can now be revealed the crew of the Pride will not leave the vessel for the entire duration of the job.
"The MV Pride left Singapore on the 16 of March and has entered port today after spending in excess of the required 14 days at sea," AMSA said in a statement on Friday.
"The crew bringing the vessel from Singapore will not be leaving the ship while it is in port and will remain on board until the vessel returns to Singapore once the operation is complete.
"There is one exception for a single Australian seafarer who will leave the ship when it arrives in Newcastle, the seafarer will be immediately transferred to a hotel by NSW Police to undergo the mandatory 14 days of quarantine as per NSW government rules.
"Australian seafarers and salvage crew will board the ship, once on board these seafarers and salvage crew will not be permitted to leave the ship until the project is complete.
"In addition, a number of key personnel that are taking part in the project from overseas were brought to Australia early so that they could undergo the required 14 days of self-isolation before joining the ship."
"In line with the current advice on social distancing there will be limited access to the vessel when it is in port."
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It is expected to take about a month to remove the 60 identified containers If the weather conditions do not delay the work.
The Pride is expected to return to port only twice during that time to unload waste for processing.
Any material recovered will be unloaded to a port-side parcel of land in Carrington where it will be sorted for either salvaging, recycling or disposal.
AMSA has commenced legal action in the Federal Court against the owners of the YM Efficiency, which lost 81 containers in heavy seas on June 1, 2018, to recover the costs of the operation.
Ardent Ocenia was awarded a $15 million contract for the work in December.
