PHP Warning: Use of undefined constant VBA_SCRIPT - assumed 'VBA_SCRIPT' (this will throw an Error in a future version of PHP) in ..../includes/functions_navigation.php(802) : eval()'d code on line 1 By Request "Bad Karma"
Bad karma
As requested here are some photos of the "KARMA" that was stranded near Agnes Water recently. The DPI have contracted it out to a salvage crew who are currently trying to patch it up enough to refloat it. They apparently have been patching it from the inside with some sort of a concrete based material. I couldnt manage to get down there at low tide, but it is sitting hard against flat rock. When I saw it a couple of weeks ago there appeared to be a long crease in it where it had been washing against the rock. Rumor has it that they will be towing it down to Bundaberg and adding it to the artificial reef down there. Absolutly cheesed that they are not going to dump it out off Round Hill Head as it would be a great fish attracter. The thing is completly rusted and it will be interesting to see if they manage to complete the salvage operation. Will keep you informed on how it all goes.
Thanks Tony. Those photos certainly gives a better impression of what the DPI are up against. Hope that isn't high tide in the photos, coz they are going to have their work cut out.
Hope they are planning to tie the idiot that beached it there to the deck of the boat before they sink it!
Cheers,
Jeff
Cripes! Give the guys a medal if they do get it off then.
I'm thinking its going to join the club of the Cherry Venture and Maheno; but at least they have a decent tale of why they washed up.
Have someone got an esky strapped onto a quad motorbike and applied for a permit to sell drinks to all the tourists over the holiday season? Someone may as well, coz it doesn't look like it is going anywhere fast.
Cheers
Jeff
This isn't the first sinking/grounding this "person" has achieved. Actually he hasn't been out of prison long for doing basically the same thing, he has walked away from other "incidents" in the past and the Gov has had to pick up the pieces.
Yeah Jeff
If you saw it close up at low tide you would definatly be wondering how it would hold together. As I was saying to you I had a couple of contracters come into the shop asking about it one came back laughing after he had a look at it. The second one had tried to do some welding on it before the owner had snuck it out of the river at Maryborough. He reckoned that there was virtually no metal there to weld. I think that the blackjack that is plastered all over the hull is probably the strongest part of it. The second contracter said the only way he would try and move it would be to fill the hull with expandable foam, but that would be far too costly.
This Woolfe guy appears to be a one man eccological disaster and Queensland tax payers get to foot the bill. Not only do you have to suffer the consequences of this fool's actions, you get to pay to clean up after him. >
Kerry
This dude has apparently done this same thing on at least 2 other occasions. He had 2 other boats that he took up to Rocky, both sunk in the river there and he just left them to rot. I Heard that the reason he went to jail was because of a toxic waste dump that he had. He was charging people to dump all manner of toxic materials, and storing it in a fenced yard in 44 gallon drums. The drums were rusting out and leaking allover the shop. The karma he purchased for $10,000 dollars and was intending to take it up to Rocky and dodgy it up, then take it over to the Phillipines to sell it. No doubt it would have ended up back over here loaded with illegal immigrants. That is probably where it came from in the first place. When he first landed this one on the beach a few of the locals upped him about making sure that the fuel wasnt going to leak out. His reply to that was "whats so bloody special about this beach" They actualy got him on film with that reply. Just a generaly lovable guy.
this is quiet bad cept the only real damage that i can see is to the boat andto the sand, comparitively nothing compared to the idiots who put their npats through the barrier reef >
Hmm.. I have it on good authority, that whilst there is no doubt that the owner acted very irresponsibly, and all the rest, there is a lot more to that than meets the eye!
In fact, the shipyard from whence it came had claimed that there was numerous thousands of dollars spent to "repair" that vessel about 2 yrs ago... and a cost dispute... yet funnily enough there does not seem to be any evidence of these so called repairs ever taking place... A very sticky situation overall.. the sooner it is dealt with the better!
Sclmarine
I spoke to tony Wolfe the day after he beached the boat and he told me that the alledged repairs had been carried out, and that the reason the boat had broken down was that the new bearings had siezed on the shaft. He then tried to anchor but the equipment that he had wouldnt hold the boat, so he claimed that he deliberatly beached it. Regardless of if the repairs had been done or not, he had no right to be in command of a boat that size without the proper qualifications to operate it or the safety equipment required. Was the boat carrying insurance cover? And did he fullfil his obligations for the safety of his crew? And was the boat a seaworthy vessel as required by law? I think not. This guy should be made to pay for all salvage, fuel removal and clean up for this the latest in a line of irresponsible actions on his behalf.
REGARDS TONY
Agreed, and dont misunderstand, I 100% agree that he should be held fully accountable for the mess. It doesnt take a rocket scientist, nor any more than a few mins to put saftey gear on a boat.. along with everything else.
I am a reasonably well qualified person, having been in the industry (large vessels like this one and far bigger...) for over 20yrs and skippered tugs and boats like this from time to time, and yes, I find no excuse for such incompetence. However, I also have a lot of "inside" info on this one, and can tell you that , although Wolfe is the one responsible for the act, and must be held accountable for his stupidity, there are others who have or had contributed to the situation. Anyone with 1/2 a brain would know that a vessel that large for $10,000...... hmm.... must be pretty bad. (That dragline on the foredeck was worth more than that to wreck!) And, I have to ask... why was it then, when it "left" its berth.. was MSQ not informed immediately, knowing the state it was in and its real danger. Any responsible operator or marine person would have done so... but no... only "after the event" are things said.
That being said... I certainly do agree with your views re Wolfes "ability, irresponsibility and responsibility for his actions".
At least he hasnt got any more of these large vessels, at least not any more, and there will now be changes in leglislation re the ownership of these ex commercial ships.
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