Salvaging boats sinking in Tauranga Harbour keeps Harbourmaster team busy

Several vessels in the Tauranga Harbour have needed assistance from the Harbourmaster team after heavy rain and strong winds. Photo / Supplied

Four vessels are being salvaged after sinking or coming loose from their moorings in Tauranga Harbour during stormy weather last week.

They were among a number of salvage jobs in what has been called the Bay of Plenty Regional Council's Harbourmaster team's busiest winter in recent memory, the council said in a statement.

After rain and strong winds in the last week of July, one vessel sank to the seafloor. The Harbourmaster team was working with the boat's owner on a salvage plan.

Another vessel was partly submerged, needing water to be pumped out and the boat removed from the harbour.

Two other vessels broke free from their mooring and anchor.

Deputy Harbourmaster Daniel Rapson said the salvage operations were a reminder for boat owners to check their vessels on moorings.

Several vessels in the Tauranga Harbour have needed assistance from the Harbourmaster team after heavy rain and strong winds. Photo / Supplied

"We have had numerous reports of boats sitting lower in the water from taking on rain this winter and three boats that have sunk at their moorings over the months of June and July," Rapson said.

He said with cloudy days, vessels relying on solar should also be checking battery levels to ensure automatic bilge pumps are operating.

Boat owners should check on their vessels regularly to catch issues early.

The statement said the recent incidents were caused by a mooring line chafing/wearing on a sharp edge, and boats slowly taking on rainwater and the bilge pump failing.

It said these could have been "easily prevented" with some regular maintenance checks.

Salvaging a boat that has sunk on its mooring could cost owners $10,000 to $15,000 per day for a commercial dive team and suitable barge — or possibly more depenting on the size of the boat and time taken to get it out of the water.

In some cases the boat may be disposed of and destroyed by the regional council under the authority of the Maritime Transport Act 1994 with the boat owner liable for all costs incurred, the statement said.