SALVAGE work continues at the Port of Devonport to remove the two tugs that sank in an incident in late January.
On 28 January, the cement carrier Goliath allided with two berthed tugs, York Cove and Campbell Cove. The incident caused little damage to Goliath, but sank the two tugs.
An update from TasPorts said the preparatory work to lift the two wrecked tugs off the Mersey River sea floor was largely complete. The next major milestone is to be with the arrival of two barges that will progress the project.
The the 55-metre-long receiving barge, Intan, and the 60-metre-long crane barge St Vincent are to complete the lift operations.
The salvage company, United Salvage, advised TasPorts that it expects the barges will leave mainland Australia for the trip to Tasmania mid-May.
The lifting component of the salvage work will commence immediately on their arrival.
TasPorts said after wet weather and COVID-19 delayed the fabrication works of the cradle that will support the wrecks on the salvage barge, the contractor reports that this work is now well advanced.
Before the barges arrive in Devonport, TasPorts facilitated a visit to the port (West No 5 Berth) of the gas carrier Gaschem Homer on Friday (6 May).
And on 13 May the Stolt Hagi, a fuel tanker, will visit Devonport to berth at West No 4. Another fuel tanker, the Fairchem Rooibos, has been pencilled in to visit Devonport on 26 May.
