Tag Archives: Mooloolaba
Sleepy deckhand fined after vessel ran aground on auto-pilot
A 19-year-old deckhand who fell asleep at the wheel of a spanner crab vessel that ran aground on auto-pilot at Mooloolaba has been fined $2,500. The skipper and a female passenger were below deck when the boat was beached in the dark in July. No one was hurt but the Matahari was a write-off. Insurance did not cover replacement costs. The stricken vessel became a tourist attraction and was dragged one kilometre up the busy beach before being cut into pieces. photo’s, click here to read the story 09:29
Mooloolaba tuna skipper and crew survive frightening freak wave at sea
Skipper Myles McIntosh and his crew have survived a frightening encounter at sea after a freak wave shattered four windows on their tuna long liner, sending water coursing through the Santa Lucia’s cabin. It took two days to travel the 483 kilometres back from Lord Howe Island to their home port of Mooloolaba, for repairs to the gaping holes that exposed the wheelhouse to the elements early this week. “We were just operating, winching up as normal, when a little freak wave built in front of us and hit us the wrong way,” Mr McIntosh said. “It was a bit hairy, smashed a few windows. The Santa Lucia is one of five long liners in the Walker Seafoods Australia fleet owned by Heidi and Pavo Walker. Mr Walker said the tuna industry was dangerous to invest in, with more challenges than freak waves at sea. click here to read the story 16:24
