KEY POINTS:
If blowing up a real-life warship floats your boat, an auction next month could be your chance of a lifetime.
The trust behind plans to sink the former Navy frigate HMNZS Canterbury in the Bay of Islands still needs to raise another $50,000, and it has hit on the idea of selling the right to set off the explosives. Whoever puts in the highest bid will get to press a button setting off 14 explosive charges, detonated in pairs several seconds apart.
Bay of Islands Canterbury Charitable Trust president Shane Housham said the 14 cutting charges - which cost $40,000 and are in storage - were designed to punch triangular holes about 2m high through steel plate. "It'll be like cutting through butter with a hot knife," Mr Housham said.
The plan was to let the ship sink stern-first to avoid trouble like that encountered when HMNZS Waikato was sunk at Tutukaka. The ship went down nose-first and eventually broke in two.
Mr Housham said the right to press the button would be auctioned at a cocktail evening at Haruru Falls Resort on September 8.
It would also be posted on the Trade Me website, and he hoped someone would stump up $50,000 for the privilege. Whoever put in the winning bid would be taken out on the sinking command vessel and given a bell made from Canterbury metal as a keepsake.
Also up for grabs at the auction will be prize pieces of the frigate, including a bridge window, the ship's compass, brass fire main bell and navigation lights.
Trust chairman Richard Witehira, who is also project manager for stripping the frigate, said he was confident of plugging the cash shortfall before the sinking.
However, the trust had been hit by more than $100,000 in regulatory costs, including about $50,000 to have the ship dry-docked and water-blasted to make sure it was free of sea squirt. "There's another $75,000 of scrap to come off the ship before we scuttle her - but another $75,000 problem could just pop out of nowhere," he said.
The Canterbury will be sunk at Deep Water Cove, off Cape Brett, on October 13. Defence Minister Phil Goff will be there to see the Canterbury's final moments. Prime Minister Helen Clark has also been invited.
-Northern Advocate
