Small craft berth back in service and Goliath departure

TasPorts is continuing to actively manage the oil spill containment area and plan for the salvage and recovery of two damaged tugs at the Port of Devonport, following a collision with commercial vessel Goliath on Friday 28 January 2022.

TasPorts Chief Operating Officer, Stephen Casey said that the response team had achieved another milestone, with controlled reductions made to the oil spill containment area to enable the TasPorts small craft berth to return to service.

“The success of the oil spill response and clean up since the incident enabled our response team to move the containment boom towards the shoreline, reducing the size of the spill area and reinstating access to the small craft berth next to Devonport 3 West Berth,” he said.

“This berth is the home for TasPorts Pilot vessels and the reinstatement of the berth is another step forward in the oil spill response and ensuring continued safe access to TasPorts’ marine service vessels to support the continuity of commercial shipping.

“In addition to this, the salvage team is continuing dive operations to remove oil and fuel still contained in the engines and tanks on the submerged tugs,” he said.

As the port operator, TasPorts also confirmed that Goliath departed the Port of Devonport today at 2.00pm. Following an appropriate risk assessment by TasPorts Harbour Master, noting ongoing investigations by authorities, the vessel movement was supported by a Marine Pilot and a tug.