Article from the Coffs Advocate, Saturday 14th August 2004 (click to enlarge)
Devine Marine Group has built a reputation of excellence in the area of marine salvage, with a comprehensive list of successful salvage operations to date.
These numerous and varied projects, often in remote and hostile locations, required the transportation of equipment, labour and supplies to areas considered inaccessible.
Our ability to complete projects on time and within budget, exposed to difficult terrain and conditions, makes our expertise and experience invaluable.
We have experienced naval architects and environmental engineers who work with our team on specialised sensitive salvage projects. Below are several examples of our best work:
Wrecked during rough seas the LC1 barge was run aground at Coffs Harbour. Up to 25 Government Departments were involved in setting the pre-requisites for this salvage operation. There could be no impact on the waterways and foreshore followed by a complete remediation of the entire surrounding operational area. Devine Marine Group satisfied all government guidelines and regulations successfully removing all traces of the wreck and then renewed the foreshore area.
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| Pushed into Coffs Harbour after a storm | Barge LC1 secured to shore |
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| Industrial cutting shears at work |
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| Our long reach excavators operating in tandem | The Crew oxy-cutting |
Awarded the salvage contract by Transport South Australia, Devine Marine Group completed a difficult underwater salvage and removal of the ‘New Endeavour’ using specialised equipment. The wreck was completely broken up and disposed of without incident to the satisfaction of all Government Departments including the EPA, Harbour Authorities and Workcover. In The News
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| Newspaper article about the salvage, click to enlarge |
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| Regulation spill boom laid in place to contain toxins and flotsam | Crane ‘Robbo D’ assisting divers for underwater salvage |
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| Oil and hydrocarbons removed without any contamination to the harbour |
Preparing for final sectional cut up and removal to scrap merchants |
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| ‘Kooleen’ sunk | Ferry hauled alongside shore with tow trucks to allow access for complete removal |
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| Shuffled into shore for removal | ‘Elly D’ Excavator and Cutting Shears |
This barge eventually became a potential navigation hazard in busy Berrys’ Bay in Sydney Harbour. Devine Marine Group was awarded the tender to safely remove and scrap this vessel under the supervision of the NSW Maritime Department.
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| Maritime wreck | One of our cranes assisting |
After the infamous ‘Zhou-Gan-Tou’ grounded at ‘Scotts Head’ with illegal immigrants onboard, the Federal Government called upon Devine Marine Group to cut up and remove all traces of the ship to send a message to other would be human traffickers that ‘this is what we will do to your vessels’.
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| The Chinese vessel 'Zhou-Gan-Tou' beached at Scotts Head with illegal immigrants. |
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| Industrial cutting equipment being used to demolish the vessel the 'Zhou-Gan-Tou' |
We removed all trace of the vessel in less than a two week period. |
The racing yacht Excalibur was lost in 2002, resulting in the death of four crewmembers. Sydney Water Police hired Devine Marine Group to recover the vessel and return it to Sydney Harbour without any further damage being sustained, to ensure that forensic inspections would not be interfered with. After several days of tracking, Devine Marine Group eventually located the vessel approximately 300 nautical miles East of Jervis Bay. The vessel was virtually sailing upside down with all sails set. Operating under strict legal requirements, our divers swam over 20 meters to the vessel in order to search for missing persons who may have been on board, and to attach a tow line to the yacht. We secured two air lift bags to the hull that gave sufficient rise to the vessel for it to be pumped out, and towed it to Sydney Harbour to be handed over to the authorities.
DMG In The News - ABC, Sept 2002
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| Located by Devine Marine Group after the authorities gave up. Divers prepare ‘Excalibur’ | Towed 300nm back to Sydney for Police forensics |
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| ‘High and Dry’ Salvage of a boat washed ashore in a cyclone, North of Coffs Harbour | ‘Manu Wai’ Hydrofoil taking water and towed to our depot for repairs |
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| ‘Everwilling’ aground at Admiralty House | The 'Escape' being towed off the beach |
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| Three vessels salvaged during a storm |
