Wreck Removal Sunshine Coast

Wreck Removal Sunshine Coast

August - September 2026

Fodico Marine Group recently completed the removal of two vessels from a Sunshine Coast harbour, a 32-metre former passenger ferry, timber-built and partially submerged at a marina wharf, and a 16.5-metre motor cruiser which was sitting on the seabed after sinking a couple of weeks beforehand. The vessels were different, but the fleet and the process were exactly the same.

Site containment and underwater assessment of vessels

Before any removal work began, each site was fully encapsulated with a hydrocarbon boom curtain, standard practice regardless of vessel size, a timber hull that's been underwater for any length of time is an unknown quantity until it's opened up. FMG then deploys the commercial diving team to undertake a pre deconstruction inspection of the vessel. 

Specialised fleet and equipment for deconstruction

Fodico's 17m tug, Alkira, towed our purpose-built 36m dumb-barge, Steel Ranger to both jobs with the tender Twisted Sister supporting crew transfer. Our 47-tonne long-reach excavator, working from the barge deck, handled the bulk of the deconstruction. The 180-tonne timber ferry and a 39-tonne timber cruiser both were handled by the same barge and expert salvage crew.

Each vessel was taken apart section by section rather than lifted whole, reducing risk to the structure, surrounding infrastructure, and crew. Our trusted partners in marine salvage, the Waters Marine commercial dive team inspected between every stage, confirming conditions were safe before the next section came out.  On the ferry this meant working methodically through 32 metres of timber hull; on the smaller cruiser, the same discipline applied despite the vessel being half the size.

Managing pollution risk

Machinery, engines, fuel tanks and oil tanks were removed intact wherever practical, rather than cut apart in place, to reduce the risk of hydrocarbon being released. Where tanks were fixed into the hull, they were cut out under controlled conditions instead.

Once each hull was fully removed, divers carried out a final seabed clean before demobilising. Both tug and barge made the voyage back to Gladstone fully loaded, where materials were unloaded and transferred to Fodico's own marine base.  Recyclable material separated out and the remainder sent to approved waste facilities.

Over 100 wreck removals, zero incidents

Our dedicated crews have carried out more than 100 salvage and wreck removals across Queensland waterways with a 100% successful completion rate & zero personnel injury, environmental harm or equipment damage.