Dredge breaks free from moorings during very heavy river flows

Media release from Ōpōtiki Harbour Development Project Director and HEB Construction:

A large dredge barge working on the new harbour at Ōpōtiki broke free from its moorings during very heavy river flows Tuesday afternoon. The river and sea conditions made it unsafe to move the crew off by boat so the 4 personnel were safely lifted off by helicopter late afternoon.

Overnight the barge drifted around the end of the western wall and lodged in shallow water there. The barge has been secured in place, but has sustained some damage to the stern section and has taken on some water in one of its stern compartments

A tug is en route from Auckland today Wednesday and will be joined by a dive crew for assessment and to plan the recovery at low tide tomorrow Thursday.

About the development

The Ōpōtiki harbour is a large infrastucture project being built by Heb Construction for servicing the new aquaculture industry being established in the Eastern Bay of Plenty. The project is funded by government’s regional investment unit Kānoa and the Bay of Plenty Regional Council Infrastructure Fund. The project is nearing completion with final dredging of the channel between the new harbour walls and closure of the old river mouth