A $20-million recovery operation is underway off the Hunter’s coast, to salvage containers that fell off a Taiwanese cargo ship two years ago.
Salvage vessel MV Pride’s retrieval work has begun, with the first of 60 shipping containers, lost from the container ship YM Efficiency, successfully lifted from the seabed off the coast of Newcastle.
The container was transferred into a specially manufactured steel basket and, with the help of a hydraulic crane and remote underwater vehicles, was safely lifted on-board without releasing any further pollution into the environment.
The container is believed to be carrying furniture products, but will not be opened until it’s brought ashore to the Port of Newcastle’s West Basin.
The operation will continue throughout April, weather conditions permitting.
