On Thursday of January 17, 2019, a berth was established in the Moruya River for Tuross Head Marine Rescue’s primary vessel TU20.
Three years ago the Squad began looking to establish a permanent mooring in the form of an air berth in the Moruya River so as to have quick access to the sea off Moruya. Preddys Wharf seemed to be an obvious place for TU20. It would provide a quick response to emergencies in the off shore environment in a place where there are 30 to 40 fishing boats every weekend putting to sea in the holiday season over the often treacherous Moruya Bar.
The installation day began early with the berth removed from its mooring at the Tuross Head Marine Rescue headquarters, towed to the Tuross boat ramp, floated onto the trailer with a lot of manoeuvring and then dragged up to the parking area it had to have "sink and raise" equipment re plumbed” to suit the new Preddys Wharf dock. Manoeuvring it into its new position took some time but was eventually successful with guide ropes on the rock wall as well as on the new finger wharf. With the tide coming in anchor chains had to then be firmly attached and the ties to the wharf completed.
Blaise Madden (Tuross Head Unit Commander) told the Beagle "Success at last. The air berth is riding high at Preddy’s wharf ready and waiting for the offshore resue vessel TU20 as its new berthing place." "Well done all those who spent a long and arduous day in the heat cleaning and manoeuvring a large object that the air berth is."
Photos: Phil Bennett
