Old Navy frigate facing last battle over sinking

Tenders close next month for the sale and disposal of the Canterbury. Picture / Paul Estcourt

A battle is growing over the right to sink the decommissioned Navy frigate Canterbury.

Tenders for the sale and disposal of the 36-year-old Leander class frigate, which is now moored at the Devonport Naval Base, close next month.

A yet-to-be-formed Bay of Islands charitable trust is likely to compete with at least five other groups around the country known to be interested in securing the old Navy vessel.

The Bay of Islands group wants to add to a Northland dive trail covering Tutukaka, Bay of Islands and Matauri Bay.

However, Dive Tutukaka director Jeroen Jongejans, who hopes to add the frigate to two other wrecks off the Tutukaka coast, believes the Bay of Islands group has left its run too late.

Dive Tutukaka has already applied and been approved resource consent to scuttle the frigate.

"If you haven't got a resource consent you're wasting your time.

"It's like writing 'I'd like to go to the moon' but the reality of getting to the moon and writing it are very different," Mr Jongejans said.

"It's a very good idea but they should come and do their apprenticeship first."

The Bay of Islands group spokesman Kelly Weeds says the guidelines provided by the Navy state that the group only has to show a commitment to gain a resource consent.

Sinking the frigate in the Bay of Islands would add millions of dollars to the area's tourist economy.

"We're full steam ahead," he said.

Mr Weeds sees little economic benefit in having another wreck off the Tutukaka coast.

The Tui was scuttled just north of Tutukaka in 1999 and the Waikato was sunk south of Tutukaka in 2000.

"Putting a third ship down there when you already have two, would that make a difference? I don't think so.

"Its economic benefit would be zilch."

A spot on the eastern side of the Bay of Islands would provide a sheltered spot for the wreck and would attract more recreational divers than other sites in exposed waters.

The Far North District Council supported the proposal and the group planned to meet local iwi Ngati Kuta and Patu Keha to gauge their support.

Mr Jongejans said his company aimed to make Tutukaka an international destination for divers.

If Dive Tutukaka could tap into that international market there would be spin-offs for the region as a whole, he said.

A Doubtless Bay group has also expressed interest in the Canterbury.

- NORTHERN ADVOCATE (WHANGAREI)