Stolen barge turns up in Oz

LONG JOURNEY: The stolen oyster barge was discovered on a beach in Queensland, 3500km from where it was stolen in the Far North. LEFT: The barge in better days.PHOTOS / ROSS GARNSEY & SUPPLIED

A barge stolen from a Northland oyster farmer has been found at last - 3500km from where it was last seen more than 12 months ago.

On August 19, 2012, Parengarenga locals saw two unidentified men motoring out of the harbour on Roy Langford's barge.

The nine-metre, $80,000 aluminium boat, Facilitator II, had been moored outside the oyster farmer's home until the early morning theft from New Zealand's northernmost harbour.

It was seen later that day, heading south past Henderson Bay, and sightings were later reported from Kerikeri Inlet and possibly the back of a truck in the Dome Valley.

Despite extensive searches and publicity, no more was heard about the barge until this week when a mine worker in remote northern Queensland contacted the Advocate.

Ross Garnsey said a workmate found the remains of the barge and dragged it up the beach to the Cape Flattery Silica Mine, about 300km north of Cairns.

It was in poor condition with its sides and canopy missing. It looked like it had been drifting upside-down for a long time because the engine cowling had been torn off and the exposed parts worn down.

Mr Garnsey's curiosity was piqued so he went online and found the Auckland company that built the barge. He then searched for 'Facilitator II' and 'lost' until he found an Advocate story from last year.

He was amazed the barge had drifted so far without sinking, given the cracks and holes in its hull. It would have weathered a few cyclones in that time.

Mr Garnsey said the 30km beach between Cape Bedford and Cape Flattery seemed to collect anything drifting up Australia's east coast. Just last week a boat which had broken down at Port Douglas, 250km away, also washed up at the beach. No one at the mine had any plans for the barge, he said.

"And I don't think the owner will ever want to salvage it. There's not enough of it left to do anything with anyway."

The mine is more than two hours' drive north of the nearest settlement, Cooktown, and has 50 fly-in, fly-out workers.