KEY POINTS:
Northlanders will have to wait a little longer for one of biggest spectacles ever seen in the Bay of Islands.
The former navy frigate HMNZS Canterbury was due to be blown up and sunk in Deep Water Cove, off Cape Brett, on Saturday. The wreck is set to become an artificial reef and dive attraction, pumping millions into the Bay economy.
But the forecast of bad weather this weekend has sparked safety fears and prompted the tugboat needed to tow the frigate to its final resting place to can its trip up from Auckland.
The 10-tonne Auckland tugboat is needed because some compartments in the frigate will be pre-flooded, pushing its displacement up to 3000 tonnes.
The pre-flooding will help balance the frigate and allow it to be sunk with fewer explosives.
The Bay of Islands Canterbury Charitable Trust says the sinking date is now likely to be Sunday, October 28.
Chairman of the Bay of Islands Canterbury Charitable Trust, Richard Witehira, said the weather in the last day or two meant it was too risky for a tug to tow the 37-year-old ship to Deep Water Cove. The ship is berthed at Opua where it was being stripped of salvageable items and cleaned of contaminants so it would be environmentally safe for sinking.
"I am very, very disappointed but you can't sacrifice safety just to achieve what we want to achieve. The gods have not been kind to us," Mr Witehira said.
- NORTHERN ADVOCATE
