Dunsborough-Mooring Installations

Single-Point Mooring Installations and construction of Port Bouvard Marina in conjunction with Seaflex Australia and Poralu Australia.

At 4.00am on the morning of the 11th March 1997, the "Twofold Bay", a 33 meter deep sea-fishing trawler hit a reef 3.5 nautical miles north of Mindarie Keys and sank in 30 ft of water within 30 minutes of hitting the reef. A passing cray-fishing boat rescued all crew.

At 2.00pm, the same day, our subsidiary MCA - Marine Salvage and Contracting (MCA) and Ledge's Diving services carried out a survey of the vessel. A 2 metre swell and winds in excess of 25 knots made conditions uncomfortable.
 

Following the survey we were approached by the owner Don Rettay of Morning Star Fisheries to salvage fishing and other equipment on the vessel after written permission was obtained from the Insurance Broker.

On 19th March 1997, MCA set up base at Mindarie Keys and commenced salvage operations observing all statutory requirements.

Salvage of equipment was carried out from 19th March to 2nd May 1997. The following items were recovered from the deck, engine room, anchor well, wheel house, steering compartment, brine tanks and aft tunnel:

2 x directional winches
1 x net winch with 2 nets
8 x small deck winches
2 x trawling boards
2 x main trawling blocks
2 x 60 fathoms of anchor chain
1 x main anchor winch items recovered
2 x anchors
1 x main motor (Cummins K19)
1 x twin disc gear box
1 x Cummins 855 auxiliary and hydraulic motor
150 x Fish bins
2 x freezer plates
1 x ice maker
1 x compressor and motor
1 x condenser
1 x bilge manifold
Electronic and navigation equipment, nets, hydraulic rams and valves

The total weight of items recovered was in excess of 35 tonnes.

The recovery and transport to Mindarie Keys Marina of the items was completed by the MCA personnel from their self contained diving vessel (Mooring Surveyor).

Weather conditions at best were never below a 1 meter swell with breakers 100 metres to the west. This made diving conditions difficult and dangerous. The experience and qualifications of MCA personnel enabled the salvage to be completed without accident or injury.