Divers scour Darwin Harbour for World War II relics as ship maintenance project begins

Divers have started a precarious sweep of Darwin Harbour, looking out for crocodiles and World War II relics as the Top End’s $515m ship maintenance project begins to take shape.

Darwin’s multimillion-dollar maritime maintenance hub project is yet to attract commercial contracts as divers begin the precarious job of removing war-time bombs and other artefacts from the sea floor in preparation from the mammoth project.

Just 15km from the city centre, the $515m project - known as a ship lift - promises to deliver 250 jobs with expectations it will attract national and international marine services.

Territory Development Minister Eva Lawler said it was too early to confirm commercial contracts for the project but said there were several industries interested.

“There’s a range of industries that are very much interested, so whether that’s our fishing industry, prawning industry, tourism (and) their vessels (as well as) patrol boats,” Ms Lawler said.

“But also any of the (industries) that use Darwin as a base - from defence all the way through to our fishing (and) our pearling industry.”

NT Development Minister Eva Lawler at East Arm where exploratory works have begun for the ship lift project. Picture: (A)manda Parkinson

Divers will search the area for World War II relics including ammunitions and bombs before the construction begins.

Commercial Marine Group diver Jed Giffard has been exploring the area for artefacts that could jeopardise the project.

These will be assessed and preserved by the NT Government’s heritage department.

In the Top End, dangerous dive conditions mean this is a precarious project.

For example, a spotter boat is required to watch for crocodiles while visibility can be as low as 0.5m to 1.5m on any given day.

Mr Giffard said divers were using a magnetometer - a large metal detector - to scour the sea bed before they went into the water.

“There is always a risk there,” he said.

“If a bomb has been underwater over time, as we lift it out of the water the pressure will be released.

“So it may actually explode.”

While there was a chance of this occurring Mr Giffard stressed it was an unlikely event.

“We’ve got our measures in place,” he said.