‘Sabotage’ blamed for damage to vessels after Martin Cash cruise charter runs aground in Rhodes

THE owners of a cruise boat that ran aground in Rhodes after colliding with several other vessels have put the incident down to an “act of sabotage”.

The Martin Cash cruise boat ran aground at Rhodes just after 12.30pm on Wednesday.

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THE owners of a cruise boat that ran aground in Rhodes after colliding with several other vessels have put the incident down to an “act of sabotage”.

The Martin Cash charter cruiser was grounded in front of two waterfront homes just after 12.30pm on Wednesday after breaking off its mooring in Brays Bay.

NSW Water Police say the 22metre vessel, which was not occupied at the time, hit a number of other boats as it cruised to shore, resulting in damage to timber and fibro glass on the sides of privately owned vessels.

The cruiser, which is advertised for hire for Christmas parties, ‘Studs Afloat’ girls’ nights and bucks parties, remained tilted at an approximate 15 degree angle on the banks of Uhrs Point as of Thursday evening.

The boat, as seen from a nearby home.

The charter vessel is licenced to carry 164 people.

One homeowner, who did not want to be named, said she found about the incident after friends spotted the odd addition to the scenery while driving across Ryde Bridge.

“It’s right in front of our house and a neighbour’s property and has come right up on the bank — it’s caused quite a stir,” the resident said.

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“We’ve had a lot of friends calling us about it and even had one of the River Cat ferries came right in to have a good look this morning.

“It’s not something you’d expect to see where it is. Hopefully in the next day or two it will be towed away.”

A spokesman for Martin Cash Cruises said owners believed the incident was traced to “an act of sabotage” to the boat’s anchoring system.

The boat is usually moored in Brays Bay (pictured centre), but now can be found at Uhrs Point towards the Ryde Bridge.

“(The boat’s) been shattered by it and she’s now hard at shore,” the spokesman said.

“We believe the mooring lines were sabotaged — there was a safety chain missing and a shackle that’s been on the boat for many years.

“Unless you undo the chains and shackles they don’t come off on their own.

“If I knew who did it and how it was done they’d be in jail”.

A NSW Police Marine Area Command said Roads and Maritime Services was organising a “private salvage of the vessel with the owner”.

The Martin Cash spokesman said the boat would be “pulled off the beach with the high tide at 11pm tonight and put back on the mooring.”

He said it was the first time the vessel — which is licensed to carry 164 passengers — had ran aground.

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