Salvage team prepares to recover sunken launch

Fire and Auckland Council responded to the Westhaven Marina in St Marys Bay, to minimise the pollution to the water after a powercat sunk overnight. Photo / NZPA

A salvage team is preparing to recover a 7.5-metre launch which sank at the Westhaven Marina in Auckland overnight, leaking up to 300 litres of petrol.

Pollution booms were put around the launch, and the pier where it sank, and electricity turned off to reduce the risk of a fire from evaporating petrol.

Maritime New Zealand pollution response unit general manager Andrew Berry said sorbent pads and booms were soaking up petrol, but much of it was evaporating in the calm and warm conditions.

The Fire Service was called just before first light but there was nothing it could do.

The launch was sitting in about 2m of water at low tide, but even at that shallow depth divers would be needed in the salvage, Westhaven Marina spokesman Nick Oliver.

He said the owner and his insurers were discussing how it would be salvaged but it may be a write-off.

No one was believed to have been on board when the launch sank.

- NZPA