Local salvage specialist criticises cleanup response to sunken Sydney Harbour ferry

The owner of a marine salvage company in New South Wales has criticised ongoing efforts to mitigate the adverse environmental impact caused by a vessel sinking incident that occurred in Sydney Harbour earlier this year.

Mr Brett Devine, salvage master and owner of Annandale-based Devine Marine Salvage, said the cleanup effort on the 99-year-old passenger ferry Baragoola has been marred by the presence of oil sheens in the surrounding waters.

Mr Devine, who cited photographic evidence provided by tourists visiting the area near where the ferry currently lies partially submerged, said the oil sheens have brought harm upon the local marine environment, spreading toxins and killing numerous birds, fish, and other marine species.

The oil sheens were found on the surface of the water in addition to the debris that resulted from Baragoola‘s wooden superstructure breaking up as the ferry sank at its moorings at Sydney’s Lower North Shore on January 1.

Mr Devine said the latest photographs were taken at around 17:30 local time on Monday, March 14, or 72 days following the sinking.

The ferry was formerly operated by the Port Jackson and Manly Steamship Company and has been in lay-up since 2003.

Mr Devine remarked that the cleanup effort runs contrary to Section 91 of the Protection of the Environment Operations Act 1997 (NSW). A provision under the said section directs an owner or occupier of premises at or from which the state transport authority reasonably suspects that a pollution incident has occurred or is occurring to take responsibility for the required cleanup action and to address the incident’s negative impact within a reasonable timeframe.