Ferry News Archive
Shipwreck sitting in path of Great Yarmouth harbour
Date: 06 Sep 2007 00:00 Source: Yarmouth MercuryMajor construction at the site of Great Yarmouth's £50m outer harbour will soon turn into a delicate operation to raise a 34-year-old shipwreck.
The ruins of the Dutch coaster Polaris lie on the seabed about 100 metres from the shoreline in the middle of the outer harbour site, hampering work. In about a month's time the wreckage, visible at low tide, will be removed to pave the way for a project tipped to signal a change in the town's fortunes.
The removal of the historic wreck is just one of the many changes happening around the site with derelict wasteland transformed into a hive of activity with portable buildings, flood lights, diggers and tonnes of rock.
Work will continue on the northern breakwaters which sprout more than 200 metres into the sea from the shoreline while the wreck is being removed.
Steve Hewitt said: “The wreck is in the middle of the site so it has to be cleared. It will be picked up at low tide and the area will be surveyed to make sure everything has been removed.”
In February, 1973, the 353 ton Polaris was on route from Scotland to Rotterdam carrying a cargo of cattle feed when she collided with Spanish tanker Fenol, 40 miles off Yarmouth.
No one was hurt but the collision left a gaping hole in the side of the 143ft Polaris. Her crew managed to board the Fenol, later transferring to the rig supply ship Titan Service which had responded to the Mayday calls.
It towed the stricken vessel towards shore but it was refused entry into the harbour over fears that the Polaris could sink in the harbour's mouth or in the Yare, bringing the port to a standstill. At that time Norfolk Line's roll-on/roll-off ferries between Yarmouth and Sheveningen in Holland were entering and leaving three times a day.
In a back up plan the Dutch coaster was run aground on South Beach with the aim to repair and refloat her. These attempts also failed with the Polaris ploughing on to the shore in front of the former South Denes Caravan Camp. Three days later she capsized.
A wrangle then broke out over who should pay for her recovery and despite several bids a salvage contract was never agreed.
In September 1973 a salvage team tried to refloat the boat by inflating a barrage balloon in the hold but jagged metal ripped the bags as they filled with air.
Meanwhile, yesterday marked the official launch of the outer harbour project with about 500 people expected to attend.
Mayor Paul Garrod said: “I know many people have harboured doubts about this proposed scheme ever taking place. But our once distant dream has become a reality.
The continuing support and enthusiasm for the project has been nothing less than outstanding and it has carried us forward to the point where we find ourselves today.
“We can all take pride in this venture. It is a symbolic statement about the confidence that we have in our borough,” he added.
The harbour is expected to be completed by autumn 2008 and the Port Company is hopeful a deal can be struck with a passenger ferry line - opening a wealth of opportunities for the town.
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