The project to remove and responsibly dispose of 33 derelict vessels from Sea Cow’s Bay Harbour has entered another important stage, with separation, processing and disposal activities now underway at Pockwood Pond.

The removal of the vessels marked a significant achievement in efforts to improve the Territory’s marine environment. However, completing the safe processing and disposal of the recovered vessels and materials is essential to bringing the project to completion.

According to the project update, preparing for this phase required specialised planning and coordination, including shipping industrial shredding equipment into the Territory and finalising contractual arrangements to support the approved disposal methodology.

Another key milestone was the challenging recovery of the massive all-metal vessel Kon Tikki in April 2026, which helped prepare the way for the subsequent processing works.

In September 2026, the contractor remobilised and commenced the second phase of the project. Work is now focused on separating, processing and disposing of the recovered materials at Pockwood Pond.

The project represents a multi-stage effort, moving from the removal of derelict vessels from the harbour to the responsible management of the materials recovered.

With the second phase underway, the focus remains on completing the disposal process in keeping with the project’s environmental objectives and ensuring that the benefits of clearing Sea Cow’s Bay Harbour extend beyond the removal of the vessels themselves.