A decommissioned dredger will be sunk off the coast of South Australia to enable it to be used as both an artificial reef and a recreational dive site.
Originally built in 1962, the 40-metre grab hopper dredger Andrew Wilson was formerly owned by local company Marine Constructions. Her scuttling will be carried out as part of a biodiversity restoration programme.
During her more than 60 years in service, the dredger was also used for dive support, marine salvage, pile installation, reef construction, and maintenance to aids of navigation.
Andrew Wilson will be scuttled in a shallow portion of St Vincent Gulf approximately six kilometres off Brighton.
Prior to being transported to the site, all hazardous material on board the dredger will be removed and access holes will be cut into the hull for later use by scuba divers.
Andrew Wilson will be the second vessel to be deliberately sunk off South Australia after the ex-Royal Australian Navy Perth-class guided-missile destroyer HMAS Hobart, which was scuttled in Yankalilla Bay in 2002.
