Incident Update - 13 May 2022

Incident Summary:

On Friday 28 January 2022, cement carrier Goliath collided with two berthed TasPorts’ tugs at the Port of Devonport (York Cove and Campbell Cove). The impact of the collision caused significant damage to the tugs, ultimately causing both to sink.

TasPorts quickly deployed oil spill response equipment and activated its crisis response teams. TasPorts has actively monitored the incident site 24 hours a day, 7 days a week since the collision, with a focus on ensuring the integrity of the oil spill containment area and the salvage of hydrocarbons from the wrecks. These activities continue to be supported by the Environmental Protection Authority (EPA).

TasPorts is continuing to assess the status of the incident site, to determine any changes to restrictions as early as practicable.

Updates:

• As noted in last week’s update, the next major milestone to lift the tugs York Cove and Campbell Cove from the bottom of the Mersey River will be the arrival in Tasmania of the barges, the 55-metre-long receiving barge, the Intan, and the 60-metre-long crane barge St Vincent.
• The fabrication works for the cradle that will support the wrecks on the salvage barge for their trip to Bell Bay (previously delayed by bad weather and a Covid-19 outbreak among the fabricators’ workforce) are now in the final stages.
• The salvage company, United Salvage, has advised TasPorts that it expects the barges will leave mainland Australia to make the voyage across Bass Strait late next week.
• Salvors from United Salvage will return to Devonport on Monday (16 May) to finalise preparatory works for the lift.
• Cranes will be on site and members of the salvage dive team will commence work on Tuesday (17 May) to fit the final slings for the lifting operation.
• In the meantime, TasPorts continues to work to facilitate ship visits to the Port of Devonport. On Monday (16 May) the Stolt Hagi, a fuel tanker, will visit Devonport to berth at West No 4.
• For all enquiries related to this incident, please contact DevonportWest@tasports.com.au