Ship's Salvage Hope Anchored In The Deep

Newcastle Herald

Saturday June 23, 2007

By MATTHEW KELLY

THE keys to the Pasha Bulker's freedom massive sea anchors are now due to be laid today.

The salvage vessel Pacific Responder, which arrived from the Great Barrier Reef on Thursday, was due to begin laying the first of the anchors about 400 metres off the stranded ship yesterday.

But a delay in preparing the salvage vessel at Carrington's Western Basin put the expected start of the operation back to 6am today.

"Wire cables running from the anchors will be fed to the ship to enable on-board winches to assist with the attempt to refloat the vessel," Svitzer Salvage shoreside salvage master Drew Shannon said yesterday.

"Four salvage tugs Pacific Responder, Woona, Kerra and Wickham will have tow lines connected to the ship in a safe and timely manner to also assist in the attempted refloat."

A helicopter made several trips to the ship yesterday morning to lower what appeared to be generators or pumping equipment.

Mr Shannon said the salvage team, made up of 16 members aboard the ship and six onshore, remained on target to carry out their refloat plan with the spring tides at the end of the month.

"The plan is maintain maximum safety for the salvage team onboard at all times," he said.

"Time frames cannot be given or assumed.

"We ask for everyone's patience while we carry out our plan."

A waterside exclusion zone around the ship also came into effect yesterday.

Illuminated buoys mark the zone, which extends 1000 metres south-east to sea from the Cowrie Hole and 870 metres south-east to sea from the end of the southern breakwater.

"It (the exclusion zone) is designed to provide an adequate level of safety for the refloating of the ship," Mr Shannon said.

The Port Corporation declined to comment on speculation that an onshore exclusion zone may be declared when an attempt is made to move the ship.