UNITED Salvage has formally commenced its salvage work to recover York Cove and Campbell Cove, according to a TasPorts update.
The two tugs sank in the Mersey River at Devonport on 28 January after cement carrier Goliath allided with the berthed tugs.
Over the past week, key equipment was delivered to the site and the relevant permits and documents for the operation were submitted.
TasPorts said United Salvage mobilised its dive team for a 50-metre sweep of the seabed for debris. Tyre fenders were removed from the Campbell Cove and a wharf timber fender was removed.
“In the coming week, the tugs will be prepared for dewatering as they are lifted from the sea bed. The team will continue dredging and trenching works for both tugs (which commenced this week) and mobilise additional key equipment, including the lifting chains.” TasPorts said.
“As previously advised, specialist salvage barges are expected in Devonport to commence the salvage operation proper in mid-April, subject to weather conditions. The 55-metre-long receiving barge, the Intan, will be travelling to Devonport from Newcastle, while the 60-metre-long crane barge St Vincent, with a lifting capacity of up to 700 tonnes, will arrive from Brisbane.”
Meantime, the 121-metre fuel tanker Stolt Sakura called at Devonport on Tuesday. The 15-hour discharging operation went smoothly without disruption to the wreck site exclusion zone and boomed perimeter.
