TASPORTS has confirmed that deconstruction of the vessel Corvina has been completed, having fallen into a derelict state in the Port of Hobart over a number of years.

The decision to demolish the vessel was made by TasPorts in early 2023, when it was removed from Macquarie Wharf to the Domain Slip.

The ex-trawler was built in 1965 by Brooke Marine Yachts in the UK, with TasPorts assuming ownership in 2012 after Corvina’s previous owner incurred debts that could not be recovered by receivers. 

Captain Mick Wall, TasPorts Harbour Master said the deconstruction of the vessel was a sad but sensible decision.

“Removing the vessel was important for two reasons” Captain Wall said.

“One, we obviously did not want the vessel to sink and obstruct the berth for other shipping and two, it was important to ease berthing congestion in the port given the return of cruise ships to Tasmania and visits by Antarctic and Southern Ocean research vessels.”

Corvina was very nearly given new life in 2018, when the not-for-profit Project Philippines planned to purchase Corvina and repurpose the ex-trawler as an aid vessel to help people in the Philippines.

Talking to DCN, Captain Wall recalled that TasPorts offered to sell Corvina for a token $1, on condition that the new owner meet the essential safety and regulatory requirements outlined by the Australian Maritime Safety Authority.

Project Philippines was unfortunately unable to satisfy these requirements, and so the sale did not proceed, though TasPorts did provide Project Philippines with financial and in-kind support according to Captain Wall.

The abandoned sale ended up being the last chance for Corvina however, being demolished only five years later. 

TasPorts CEO Anthony Donald said, “TasPorts role was to facilitate trade and logistics solution to benefit the community and create value to our customers.”

“We simply can’t accept risks that might impede our capacity to support and enable safe shipping movements or pose a threat to the marine environment, no matter how noble a cause might be.”

As a fishing trawler, Corvina traversed the waters of Australia and New Zealand as recently as the 2000’s, fishing for orange roughy and other deep water species.