Dispute over wrecked boat's removal from rocks

A wrecked fishing boat could be cut into pieces to get it off the rocks in Northland where it went aground last month.

The 100-tonne Seawyf is stuck on the Fair Way Reef at the entrance to Mangonui Harbour and its owners and the insurers are in dispute over removal costs.

It is believed to be a total loss but was not yet legally considered a wreck, Northland Regional harbourmaster Captain Ian Niblock said.

Since the grounding the boat's owner Te Rarawa Fishing and the insurers had been trying to sort out "an issue" over who paid for its removal, Capt Niblock said.

Legal action to force the company to remove the hulk was an option but it was too early to say if that option would be used.

"We are still working through the issues with the owners and they in turn with their insurers."

He said another option was to cut it into pieces to remove it.

He said contaminants including diesel fuel had been removed and it was not an environmental risk.

Because of the damage there were a lot of practical difficulties in removing the boat.

"That is why the vessel is still sitting there because it is not an easy job to save it from where it is."

- NZPA