What’s happening?
Maritime Safety Queensland (MSQ) has initiated the removal of the derelict 49-metre vessel Endeavour Bay from Trinity Inlet, Cairns.
The ship, anchored since 2020, poses significant environmental and navigational risks, especially with the onset of the cyclone season.
Local contractor Carpentaria Contracting has been engaged for the operation, estimated to cost $1,075,000.
Why it matters?
The deteriorating vessel has been identified as a hazard due to its potential to sink, break apart, and release pollutants into the marine environment.
MSQ’s proactive measures ensure protection for both the ecosystem and local maritime activities, aligning with Queensland’s War on Wrecks program.
As Acting Maritime Safety Queensland General Manager Jennifer Tumbers stated: “MSQ has been actively engaging with its owner to accept his legal responsibilities to ensure the vessel is seaworthy, and not a risk of breaking up and causing both environmental harm and a hazard to navigation for other vessels.”
Local Impact
The removal of Endeavour Bay directly safeguards Trinity Inlet, a critical waterway for Cairns.
The operation will prevent potential pollution that could harm marine life and disrupt local maritime industries.
By the Numbers
- $1,075,000: Estimated cost of the removal operation.
- 35 tonnes: Amount of pollutants already forcibly removed by MSQ in August 2024.
- Mid-March 2025: Expected completion date for the vessel’s removal.
Zoom In
The ship’s removal highlights the importance of holding vessel owners accountable.
MSQ had been negotiating with the ship’s owner to fulfil his legal obligations, but failure to comply led to the current intervention.
As Tumbers noted: “In view of the current cyclone season and the vessel’s ongoing deterioration, as the state’s maritime regulator, MSQ has acted to protect the marine environment.”
Zoom Out
This operation is part of Queensland’s broader War on Wrecks initiative, which aims to tackle derelict vessels and protect the state’s waterways.
The program underscores the government’s commitment to maritime safety and environmental preservation.
What To Look For Next?
MSQ will monitor the removal operation to ensure environmental safeguards are met, including containment of any discharges from the vessel.
Following the operation, MSQ will pursue cost recovery from the vessel’s owner, potentially through legal action.
As Tumbers stressed: “Once the removal is complete, MSQ will take direct action to recover costs and hold the owner legally accountable.”
This decisive action sends a clear message: vessel owners cannot evade responsibility for unseaworthy ships, and the government will enforce compliance to protect Queensland’s waterways.
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