Bawley Point fishing vessel shipwreck triggers major clean-up

A 22-metre fishing vessel, the Strike Force, ran aground at Bawley Point on October 27 before breaking in half due to rough seas. NSW Maritime successfully removed 9,000 litres of diesel fuel and 50 litres of hydraulic fluid from the wreck using small electric pumps to prevent environmental contamination.

Despite the fuel removal, a significant clean-up operation is expected to last months. Debris, including fibreglass and foam, has spread across several beaches, stretching from North Beach as far south as Murramarang.

Local volunteers and the Bawley Point Rural Fire Service have joined official response efforts to sift through sand and collect small pieces of debris. NSW Maritime is working with partner agencies and insurers to safely dispose of the vessel, which is considered beyond repair.