HMAS CANBERRA

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Divers recovered fishing boat

Royal Australian Navy clearance divers, embarked on the HMAS 'CAnberra' have helped the Vanuatu Fisheries Department (VFD) salvage one of their ships, the 'Scabra', which had sunk in the aftermath of the Tropical Cyclones Judy and Kevin. The timber boat built locally in Vanuatu, was partially submerged near the police maritime wing’s RVS Mala Base wharf in Port Vila Harbour. It was important to remove the boat as it had presented a navigational hazard to other vessels. The divers worked with the VFD to lift the boat, pump the water out and then get it on a trailer so that it no longer posed a risk. The divers put lift bags underneath the boat and then used a submersible pump to get the water out so that it could be moved onshore. The VFD will look to repair the boat, which was first built in the fisheries boat yard on the island of Espiritu Santo before sailing to Port Vila. Through taskings from Vanuatu’s National Disaster Management Office (NDMO), the 11 divers have been undertaking damage inspections on vessels in the harbour. The team has also been conducting underwater surveys and clearance of major wharves to ensure maritime safety for all vessels using the area and will soon commence a survey of the harbour’s navigational markers. Report with photo: https://www.defence.gov.au/news-events/news/2023-03-17/navy-divers-refloat-fisheries-boat