Rescue Vessel Salvage off Lobster Beach
Marine Rescue Central Coast became involved with the recovery of Rescue Vessel TG30 on Thursday July 7 around 2:00pm. The base received a VHF 16 radio call from the Unit Commander of Marine Rescue Terrigal from the Palm Beach Ferry. He told us that TG30 had been capsized on the bar at Little Box Head, and that the Palm Beach ferry had picked all three crew up off the upturned hull.
Two of the MR Terrigal crew soon arrived at the Point Clare base, quickly followed by Paramedics and Police. Duty Operator, Bob Sullivan had treated one of the crew for a lacerated finger, the Ambo’s took him to hospital. The NSW police require the boat’s Skipper to provide a breath test and a statement.
On Friday July 8, at the request of MRNSW Officers, Marine Rescue Central Coast contacted a salvage company from Brooklyn. The salvage company attended the site together accompanied by Roger Palmer, Commander of Marine Rescue Central Coast and Neil Grieves, Marine Rescue Regional Controller for Hunter Central Coast.
After assessing the situation, it was agreed to attempt the salvage attempt would be the following day, Saturday July 9. The salvage went to plan starting at 10:00am and finishing at around 5:00pm salvage barge and crane was able to lift and right the disabled rescue vessel. The crew on Central Coast 21, Roger Palmer, Brian Warburton, John Jarvey and Neil Grieves then used the high volume electric water pump on board to pump out the vessel. Once cleared the vessel was taken in tow by a Crew from MR Cottage Point aboard Cottage Point 30. The badly damaged vessel was then towed to Fenwick’s Marine at Brooklyn, arriving around around 6:00pm. It is expected that the vessel will be collected by the builder, Sailfish Marine, on Tuesday for return to the workshops in Alstonville, north-coast NSW.