Newcastle Water Police are investigating how a fishing trawler became grounded in the middle of Stockton Beach.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
The privately owned fishing vessel, which is registered in NSW, became beached on Wednesday November 29.
By the time the Port Authority was alerted to the trawler it was too late to save the vessel.
According to a Roads and Maritime Services spokesman the cause of the grounding is unknown and subject to investigation.
On Thursday, November 30, the RMS issued a notice to the boat owner to remove all pollutants from the vessel within seven days.
National Parks and Wildlife Service was also consulted about access to the beach.
Prior to its removal Anna Bay resident Warren Leadbeatter took these photographs of the boat’s intrusion on the natural landscape. It was a chance to test out his drone and capture the impressive pictures in the gallery above.
The trawler has since been removed from Stockton Beach and any beach restoration work that is needed will be carried out by the salvage crew at the expense of the vessel’s insurer.
Roads and Maritime has also provided instructions to this company to report any pollution or wildlife impacts from the grounding.
OTHER LOCAL MARITIME INCIDENTS:
Jessica Brown
Jessica began her journalism career in 2009 as a cadet at The Port Stephens Examiner before moving to London for a two-year stint working in magazines and digital publishing. The Lake Macquarie local returned to Australia where she took up a reporting role at The Maitland Mercury. She worked across several rounds including local council, police and property before moving into digital journalism and joining the team at The Newcastle Herald in 2017.
Jessica began her journalism career in 2009 as a cadet at The Port Stephens Examiner before moving to London for a two-year stint working in magazines and digital publishing. The Lake Macquarie local returned to Australia where she took up a reporting role at The Maitland Mercury. She worked across several rounds including local council, police and property before moving into digital journalism and joining the team at The Newcastle Herald in 2017.
