Patchwork on Jody F keeps divers busy

By ROSALEEN MacBRAYNE

The Jody F Millennium, under repair in Tauranga, is unlikely to leave port before the middle of next week.

Divers are still working long hours on the hull of the Japanese-owned log carrier, which was holed when it ran aground off Gisborne on Waitangi Day. It was refloated 18 days later.

A patch is being prepared for welding over a ruptured water ballast tank but that, said United Salvage director Ian Hoskison yesterday, would not happen "for a couple of days".

The framed patch was about 3m by 1m and had to be lowered into position under water, he said.

A concrete box would back up the patch inside the hull to ensure the ship could safely be towed to an Asian port and placed in a dry dock for permanent repairs.

Mr Hoskison said the damaged rudder was also being removed - another "big, slow job".

At the present rate of progress, it would be several more days before the 22,000-tonne vessel was towed from New Zealand, he said.

The crew of the Korean-chartered log ship have continued to live on board throughout its time in Gisborne and Tauranga, where it docked last Saturday night.

The sailors have been using the Seafarers' Centre at Mt Maunganui to drink, dine, play pool and table tennis, or simply to relax in the evening.

The ship's cargo of 20,000 tonnes of logs has been off-loaded but 500 tonnes of heavy fuel oil are still on board, pending the outcome of discussions between the ship's owners and the Maritime Safety Authority.

Tauranga harbourmaster John Dickinson is happy with the progress on repairs.

He said the 50m exclusion zone placed around the Jody F Millennium to protect divers was being respected.

The Gisborne stranding, which triggered an environmental alert when fuel leaked into the sea, was something that was "bound to happen somewhere in New Zealand at some time", Captain Dickinson said.

"We are a trading nation with a lot of shipping around our coast."

nzherald.co.nz/marine