A boat that partially sunk and leaked oil during the storm in Coromandel this week has now been dragged out of the water to a tow truck for removal.

Dealing with the incident in Wyuna Bay was a daunting task for the owner and harbourmaster team.

'It's been a wet start to 2023 for many of us - especially across the Coromandel Peninsula,” says a Waikato Regional Council spokesperson.

On Thursday, Deputy Regional Harbourmaster Lee Samphier was notified of a partially sunken vessel in Wyuna Bay, Coromandel.

'Due to the poor weather conditions and road closures around the Coromandel Peninsula, Lee and fellow Deputy Regional Harbourmaster, Hayden Coburn, were unable to reach the incident.”

Lee contacted the owner of the stricken vessel, who planned to re-float it during the next high tide with the assistance of a Moana New Zealand oyster barge.

'Early Friday morning, a Moana staff member called Lee to share that the vessel was successfully re-floated overnight. However, after beaching the vessel next to the wharf at Jack's Point, they noticed oil was leaking.”

A vessel partially sunk and leaking oil in Wyuna Bay, Coromandel has now been removed from the water. Photo: Waikato Regional Council.

Lee and Hayden travelled to Coromandel, taking an oil spill clean-up kit from Whitianga with them. A sorbent boom was placed around the vessel to contain the oil, with additional sorbent pads placed in the water to soak up any spillage.

Once the tide ebbed low enough to access the vessel, a WRC submersible pump was used to move some 700 litres of contaminated water from the engine bay and bilge into an IBC for safe disposal. The vessel was then dragged up the beach to a tow truck for removal.

'Thankfully, there was minimal environmental impact as the majority of the oil was contained within the vessel, with sorbent booms and pads capturing spillage,” says a Waikato Regional Council spokesperson.

'If you are a mooring owner, we urge you to check your vessels before, during, and after bad weather - when it is safe to do so.”

Learn more here about moorings here