Mercury Island Freighter Sinks off Devils Point

Coastguard Whitianga received a call at 12:30pm yesterday, Monday 29 August that the Mercury Bay Freighter was in trouble and sinking off Devils Point. A local cray boat also responded to the call.

The skipper of a 40-foot vessel was rescued by crew on a commercial boat after his vessel struck trouble when travelling from Whitianga to Great Mercury Island yesterday afternoon. The call for help came as the vessel started to sink, with six tonnes of bagged ready mix concrete on board, at Devils Point near Matapaua Bay. The stricken vessel subsequently started to break up on nearby rocks. Waikato Regional Council’s maritime officers attended the scene yesterday afternoon, but rough sea conditions prevented salvage from the remote outcrop. There was a small amount of marine diesel onboard the vessel at the time, which was dispersed by the rough seas and is unlikely to have a significant impact on the marine environment.

Devils Point is aptly named and according to Graham Caddy from Coastguard conditions yesterday were not great with South Easterly winds. The boat is lying in 30m of water and Graham Caddy has asked us to mention that there will be debris in the water in the area and any boats should stay clear of the Devils Point area.

It is understood that salvage crews will be heading out to look at the feasibility of recovery.

We will update further when more information comes to hand.

Picture: From file and not prior to this trip