MV Goondooloo refloated after sinking to bottom of D’Entrecasteaux Channel
Against the odds, historic wooden vessel MV Goondooloo has been refloated after sinking to the bottom of the D’Entrecasteaux Channel back in February.
Tasmania
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The wooden shell of the 67-year-old historic vessel MV Goondooloo has seen the fresh Tasmanian air once again after a salvage crew was successful in refloating the boat.
Dive and salvage solution specialist Total Dive Solutions announced on Thursday that the 20m ship, once built in 1958 to serve as a pilot vessel in Sydney and Newcastle and then acting as a rescue operations boat with the Tamar Sea Rescue, had been brought to the surface of the D’Entrecasteaux Channel and was headed for repairs.
The MV Goondooloo was on its way to the Australian Wooden Boat Festival in February this year when the crew suddenly lost steering and the boat started taking on water.
Owners Deb Ludeke and Craig Bellgrove in April stated that they believed the boat was set to be scuttled, but with the assistance of Total Dive Solutions, the Wooden Boat community, Environmental Protection Authority Tasmania, Marine and Safety Tasmania (MAST) and TasPort, the boat will see another lifetime.
“It’s great to assist and play a part in helping this vessel live on, we know how much it means to the owners to have her back” Managing Director from Total Dive Solutions Brock Males said.
“Our team just got in and got the job done.
“We all know wooden boats like the Goondooloo are an important part of our maritime history here in Tasmania”.
Total Dive Solutions previously dived on the Goondooloo to remove the fuel and oils that were onboard.
A spokesperson for MAST stated it had maintained “close contact with the vessel owners” and contractors throughout the salvage operation and was pleased that the “navigational hazard” had been removed.
Ms Ludke and Mr Bellgrove have been contacted by The Mercury for comment.
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Originally published as MV Goondooloo refloated after sinking to bottom of D’Entrecasteaux Channel
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