Lady Chelmsford recovery underway

By Gabe Andrews

Work has finally begun to recover the 'Lady Chelmsford', which sank at its berth at Central Pier in February 2008.  

A marine exclusion zone has been marked, a crane barge is in place and divers have started to cut the boat up.

Concerns over the structural integrity of the 33.5 metre vessel have meant that it will be recovered in pieces.

The Department of Transport’s security and emergency management division is overseeing operations being conducted by insurer Nautilus Marine to raise the vessel.

A Department of Transport spokesperson said the salvage operation had been carefully planned using divers to assess the vessel’s condition and to make sure all precautionary measures were in place.

The spokesperson said salvaging the Lady Chelmsford would “clear the way for other vessels to access the berth at Central Pier and remove a potential pollution and waterways safety hazard.”

The Lady Chelmsford was originally a Sydney ferry constructed in 1910, and until 2008 was being used as a showboat restaurant in Melbourne.

See youtube.com/watch?v=_ONTx_d16LQ