Seafire Whakatane
|
|
 SeaFire 44meter fishing vessel sunk off Whakatane 2 |
 SeaFire 44meter fishing vessel sunk off Whakatane 3 |
 SeaFire 44meter fishing vessel sunk off Whakatane 4 |
 SeaFire 44meter fishing vessel sunk off Whakatane 5 |
 SeaFire 44meter fishing vessel sunk off Whakatane 6 |
 SeaFire 44meter fishing vessel sunk off Whakatane 7 |
SeaFire, Whakatane's new wreck dive sunk
About to be sunk the 44 meter fishing vessel SeaFire moored over its final resting place in 30 meters of water, just South of Whale Island (Moutohora)and about 6 miles out from Whakatane has become New Zealands latest wreck dive.
Opting to scuttle the vessel rather than using explosives, a 2 hour wait kept a large crowd wondering if she was ever going to sink. A flotilla of aprox 100 vessels and about 3 aircraft got what they came to see and when the vessel finally made a move, a huge cheer erupted from the crowd.
Images By Phil van Dusschoten www.whaleislandtours.com www.diveworks-charters.com
M.V. Boston Seafire - FD109
Fleetwood Trawler - M.V. Boston Seafire - FD109
Official Number: 187847
Gross Tonnage: 314
Length: 127 ft
Breadth: 26.8 ft
Draught: 12.3 ft
Engine: 2 stroke 5-cyl Polar diesel (740bhp) by British Polar Engines Ltd, Glasgow
Built by: Henry Scarr Ltd. Hessle
Owner: Brixham Trawlers Ltd
History
- 1956: Launched as BUZZARD for Brixham Trawlers Ltd (FD109).
- August 01 1959: Sold along with the company to Boston Deep Sea Fisheries Ltd, Fleetwood (Arthur J. Lewis, manager).
- 1961: Renamed Boston Seafire.
- 1969: Sold to New Zealand as NEPTUNE.
- 1974: Sold to Sealord Products Ltd, Nelson,NZ. Renamed Seafire registered at Nelson.
- 199? 199?: Sold to Duesouth Trawlers (NZ) Ltd, Nelson, NZ. Still in LR 2005-6.
- 1999: She is now known as the Seafire and has been converted to stern fishing with the mounting of a net roller and net drum at the stern. She is equipped with the latest electronics but her engines and main winch are still standard.
- March 2008: Tied up at Miramar Wharf, Wellington waiting to be scuttled.
- October 19 2008: Sunk by scutteling on the 19th October 2008 near Whale Island, Whakatane. New Zealand and will be used as a dive wreck.
