Clean-up begins in Point Lonsdale after a Port Phillip Sea Pilots boat smashed into a reef offshore

A massive clean-up operation is underway on Point Lonsdale and Queenscliff beaches, following the shock crash of a Port Phillip Sea Pilots boat this week.

A massive clean-up operation is underway on Point Lonsdale and Queenscliff beaches, following the shock crash of a Port Phillip Sea Pilots boat this week.

Debris from the supposedly indestructible vessel - which ran into Point Lonsdale reef late Thursday night and broke apart - littered the coastline on Friday and Saturday.

A cleanup of the debris on Point Lonsdale has now started.

Scores of workers were seen Saturday morning collecting and bagging parts of the broken boat, with large shards of fibreglass, piles of foam, power cables and what appeared to be navigational devices and log books on the shore of The Narrows dog beach collected.

A cleanup of the debris on Point Lonsdale has now started.

One of the workers said four loads of debris from the busted boat had been taken away on Friday but there was still much more to be collected and removed.

Meanwhile police tape was placed across the entrance to the dog beach and while it remained open to the public, people were warned to watch for sharp objects on the sand or in the shallows.

A clean-up of the debris on Point Lonsdale has now started.

‘Absolute grave danger’: Trio saved after ‘indestructible’ boat smashes into reef

Three men have been saved in a dramatic rescue effort after an “indestructible” fibreglass pilot boat smashed into a reef offshore near the Point Lonsdale lighthouse late on Thursday night.

Emergency services were alerted after the boat’s captain and two crew members ran aground on Point Lonsdale reef approximately 400m from Springs Beach about 11.30pm.

Inspector James Dalton, from the water police search and rescue squad, confirmed three men were rescued from the reef after they were found standing on rocks next to their damaged boat.

The vessel, called Corsair, was launched by Port Phillip Sea Pilots (PPSP), a Queenscliff seafaring company.

“Over the next two hours we effected a successful rescue which was a multi agency response,” Insp Dalron said.

The crew were uninjured, and rescued by a life raft about 1.30am Friday.

Dean Patterson was fishing in Point Lonsdale when the boat crashed. Picture: Lily McCaffrey

Inspector Dalton said the men were “pretty shaken up”.

“They were very cold” he said.

“The reason we couldn’t get them quickly was because the life raft was close to the rocks, it was very windy and there was a very big swell rolling in.”

Insp Dalton said the men were “very experienced mariners” but were “they were in absolute grave danger”, describing the situation as “very dire”.

“The highly skilled marine search and rescue crews from Victoria Police and the Coast Guard should be commended for what they’ve done, saving these gentlemen’s lives” he said.

The men were taken to Queenscliff for treatment and did not need to be taken to hospital.

Insp Dalton said it was not yet clear what caused the crash, but said there would be an investigation.

“It’s one of the most treacherous stretches of water in the world” he said.

“They’re superb vessels, they’re very resilient

“But obviously, if you hit a rock, that’s going to be problematic.”

He said the boat spilt into three main pieces, and that there was a clean up underway.

As of 10am Friday, the major parts of the boat— the wheelhouse, bow and stern - had been recovered.

A screenshot of Victoria Police Air Wing footage of the boat. Picture: Victoria Police Air Wing

Point Lonsdale resident Dean Patterson was fishing near the Point Lonsdale lighthouse at the time of incident and was told by he Port of Authorities told him to head back to shore.

“We bolted,” he said.

“It’s hard enough when the waves hit the pier, let alone a boat.”

He said he had never seen anything like it

“Not a pilot boat. Submarines and ships yes, but not a pilot boat”

David McDonald, a local resident, said pilot boats were built to be “indestructible,” however pieces of the ship dotted Springs Beach.

“This is full on, you just don’t see this,” Mr McDonald said.

“They’re designed to be indestructible.

“I reckon the motor’s still on the reef, and the rest of the boat is messed up in the Point Lonsdale bight.

Wreckage on Springs Beach on Friday morning.

“Everyone’s safe, but this indestructible boat is in pieces.”

According to Mr McDonald the pilot boat was travelling at high speeds when it hit the reef.

“They hit it (Colgate Reef) at 21 knots,” he said.

“21 knots is flying.”

Insp Dalton said he did not know how fast the boat was travelling, but that the pilot boats usually travelled at speeds of between 20 to 25 knots.

Pictures showed part of the boat being loaded onto a truck, while a large piece of what appeared to be the hull sat upon Springs Beach this morning.

Mr McDonald said the rescue evoked memories of the 1991 pilot boat disaster, that saw Captain J.R Nance and two crew members killed when their vessel flipped stern over bow.

Port Phillip Sea Pilots (PPSP) operate year round, and have been operating in the area since 1839.

Pilot ships head out to cargo ships in Port Phillip Bay, board them and then steer the ships into ports.

A PPSP spokesperson the three PPSP crew were safe and well.

Jon Dicker, director and pilot at PPSP said PPSP was supporting and focusing on the wellbeing of the three men involved, who were locals.

He said they were physically ok but “upset”.

He said the outcome was “very extraordinary” given the treachurous conditions.

“We’re just so grateful that they’re OK,” he said.

Originally published as Clean-up begins in Point Lonsdale after a Port Phillip Sea Pilots boat smashed into a reef offshore