Maritime Safety Queensland (MSQ) pulls five sunken or broken up vessels from Gold Coast waters

Wrecks which were removed obstructed navigation, had the potential to drift and damage other vessels and posed a risk of pollution – and there’s more removals on the radar.

MARITIME Safety Queensland has pulled five wrecked vessels from Gold Coast ­waterways.

MSQ general manager Angus Mitchell said the wrecks which were removed, obstructed navigation, had the potential to drift and damage other vessels plus posed a risk of pollution.

“A range of vessels have been neglected and have sunk, with the recent extreme weather increasing the risk to boaties and the environment, and we needed to remove them from the water immediately,” he said.

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The Lucinda, which was pulled from Gold Coast waters on Wednesday, December 23. Picture: MSQ

“We are expecting a busy summer on the waterways and so MSQ is taking action to remove these vessels to ensure a safe Christmas for other boaties.

“Some vessel owners have tried to refloat or fix their stricken vessels, but equally it is clear some have been abandoned and we have stepped in to remove and dispose of those.

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“MSQ has responded quickly to arrange the swift removals before the Christmas break, with five vessels removed last week and several more on the radar.”

The five vessels, three houseboats and two yachts, needed to be removed because they had broken up or sunk.

One of the dilapidated vessels removed from Gold Coast waters by Gold Coast Waterways Authority as part of the statewide War on Wrecks program.

Three of the vessels were around Wavebreak Island and two were at Cabbage Tree Point.

Two were removed by the owners with the help from MSQ, while the remaining three were removed thanks to Queensland Government War on Wrecks funding.

MSQ will seek to recover any costs where it can.

Mr Mitchell warned all boat owners to prepare for summer.

“We all know to get our back yards storm-ready and boat owners should undertake the same preparedness with their vessels,” he said.

“We have activated resources to ensure the Gold Coast waterways are cleared of these vessels quickly.

Dilapidated vessels removed from Gold Coast waters by Gold Coast Waterways Authority as part of the statewide War on Wrecks program.

“It also serves as a reminder to owners of their responsibility to maintain their vessels and either repair or remove them from the water before they become derelict.

“If an irresponsible boat owner refuses to clean up for themselves, we will take the necessary steps to have the job done drawing on the government’s $20 million War on Wrecks funding.

“Where vessel owners can be identified we will take action to recover removal costs through the court.”

In early December, Gold Coast Waterways Authority (GCWA) said 106 abandoned vessels and pieces of property had been removed since the War on Wrecks was launched in 2018.

It works with MSQ and the Department of Environment.