ES8 GIVES A NEW MEANING TO GASH BARGE
BY KEITH INGRAM, PHOTOS BY TARA HOYLE T
he recent successful delivery of ES8 to Sydney Harbour's Environmental Services in June was another advancement in this proactive agency's fight against urban pollution of local marine waterways. The New South Wales Maritime Authority has a number of statutory responsibilities to improving safety and protecting the environment on the state's navigable waterways, including removing rubbish from Sydney Harbour.
It all began in the early 1900s, when the "rat catchers" of Sydney were formed to combat the spread of bubonic plague. Trapping infected rats was a vital service to the health of Sydneysiders. In the 1930s, the rat catchers became the Harbour Cleaning Service who employed the services of a crew of hardy souls in timber rowing boats who didn't mind the salt, spray or the smell. A
Specialist
manufacturers of marine aluminium windows and doors
team would collect debris and floating rubbish, including retrieving dead animals and other unsavory objects from Sydney Harbour. In the 1950s, the wooden boats gained the luxury of engines, but increased environmental awareness stemming from the Clean Up Australia campaign instigated the purchase of the present harbour cleaning equipment in June, 1989. In 1990, the NSW Maritime Authority took on the responsibility for cleaning Sydney Harbour as a major environmental initiative. The role of the Harbour Cleaning Branch changed to Environmental Services in 2002. It has grown in conjunction with NSW Maritime's enhanced responsibilities as an appropriate regulatory authority under the state's environment protection laws.
It demonstrates an increased environmental engagement and provides a stronger focus on environmental performance among the commercial and recreational vessel fleets on the harbour. An additional duty, for example, involves monitoring compliance by contracting and building companies regarding deployment of anti- pollution booms and skirts around foreshore construction sites. Today's Environmental Services branch has a team of 15, who work the vessels on a seven-day per week schedule cleaning the waters and foreshores of the harbour and the navigable waters of the Parramatta and Lane Cove Rivers. This area consists of 5020 square kilometres and a combined foreshore length of 270km. The service provided by NSW Maritime through its Environmental Services team is currently the only effective means of removing floating litter and waste from Sydney Harbour, including stormwater pollution, other visible debris and floating hazards to navigation.
Ph 09 438 6884, Fax 09 438 6852, Email sales@seamac.co.nz 11 Finlayson St, Whangarei.
12 Professional Skipper September/October 2011 On average more than 3500cu m of rubbish is collected per
year. It ranges from large objects such as trees and tyres to the debris washed into the harbour via stormwater from harbour-side
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