Kuiku Mabaig representative Ishmael Gibuma with ranger Nelson Gibuma and Laurie Elisala (both former passengers) as the wreckage is removed. Photo: TSRA
The removal of a wrecked former charter vessel has ended a project to remove 13 shipping wrecks from Far North Queensland.
Maritime Safety Queensland (MSQ) says a $2.7 million contract to remove wrecks from the region ended after the MV Reef Connection was removed from Warul Kawa (Deliverance Island).
The contract to remove the wrecks was awarded to Carpentaria Contracting under the state’s War on Wrecks program.
The 18-metre vessel caught fire and sank during a voyage in February 2015, the MSQ says.
All seven of the crew survived but the location of the wreckage was unknown until it was discovered a year later by Torres Strait Regional Authority rangers, washed ashore on Warul Kawa—an island of deep spiritual and cultural significance for Torres Strait Islanders.
The vessel was finally removed on November 20 and witnessed by Kuiku Mabaigal (Cultural Authority) representatives and rangers from five communities with a connection to Warul Kawa.
MSQ General Manager Kell Dillon was “very pleased” to finally close the chapter on the MV Reef Connection.
“It is even better that Warul Kawa has been returned to its natural state and that MSQ was able to involve Torres Strait Islanders to ensure their spiritual and cultural needs were met during removal of the wreckage,” he says.
Dillon also points out that the contract is part of larger efforts to remove shipwrecks.
“To date, MSQ spent $7.7 million removing wrecks from our Cairns maritime region as part of a War on Wrecks that has so far seen over 120 wrecks removed from this region by MSQ or our partner agencies since 2018,” he says.
“This has been important work but I want vessel owners to understand that the legal responsibility for maintaining, salvaging or removing their vessels from Queensland waters remains with them,” he warns.
“MSQ does so only when vessel owners fail in that responsibility and will seek to recoup the costs of the removal operations from the owners, through the courts if required.”
For a list of the 13 wrecks removed, click on the following: MSQ wraps up $2.7m project with wreck removal from Warul Kawa
