Another old warship may be scuttled

The navy's last steam warship may go to a new home underwater somewhere around the North Island coast, which would cost the navy hundreds of thousands of dollars.

The old Leander-class steam frigate HMNZS Canterbury was taken out of commission in March after 34 years with the navy and although the navy would prefer to see it sold for scrap, there had been an increasing interest in sinking her as a dive attraction, the navy said today.

The navy was now waiting for a direction from the Minister of Defence Mark Burton on what do to with the old ship but that decision was not expected before the elections.

At least four organisations had told the navy they were interested in sinking the ship. Suggested sinking sites include the Coromandel coast, Gisborne, and two in Northland.

Two navy ships had already been sunk in Northland. The frigate Waikato, also a Leander-class, is sitting in 28 metres of water off Tutukaka north of Whangarei and the research ship Tui, is a few kilometres farther north.

Waikato was sunk after Mr Burton intervened in the disposal process and ordered it to go to the Tutukaka Promotion Society.

Another Leander-class frigate, the former HMNZS Wellington, is moored in Wellington opposite Te Papa where it is being prepared to be sunk off Island Bay as a dive attraction in November.

Commander David Proctor, who is in charge of disposing of the frigate, said the navy was obligated to clean up the ship and remove all toxic material, including oil and fuel. The navy was also expected to pay to have the ship towed to a new site if the decision was made to sink it.

If the ship is sunk as a dive attraction the cost to the navy is likely to be about $350,000, including tow charges. If it was sold on the scrap market it would bring about $400,000.

The main gun, a twin four-inch turret, had been removed from Canterbury and would be installed at the navy museum when it was moved to a new home.

"She is purely sitting alongside now awaiting Government direction on disposal," he said.

He said the navy wanted the ship out of the Devonport navy base in Auckland by the end of the year.

Alarms had been installed on the 'dead' ship to stop intruders and detect flooding in the hull. The navy also inspected the ship once a day, said Cdr Proctor.

- NZPA