A vessel that sank at Thames’ Shortland Wharf has now been successfully recovered, with authorities confirming no environmental damage from the incident.
The MV Gleaner was lifted from the water on Thursday following a two-day salvage operation coordinated by Waikato Regional Council, alongside maritime contractors.
Work began early Wednesday morning, with response teams on site from 8am overseeing the recovery effort. Initial concerns about potential fuel leakage were allayed, with officials confirming no diesel or other contaminants were released into the harbour.
Investigators also found no indication the vessel had been carrying a significant amount of fuel when it went down.
Salvage crews spent much of Wednesday pumping water and mud from the stricken vessel to stabilise it before refloating. By Thursday, it was successfully hauled from the water, bringing the operation to a close.
Waikato Regional Council staff worked in conjunction with marine salvage specialists to manage the recovery, while monitoring environmental risks throughout.
Authorities have acknowledged the cooperation of the Thames community, local businesses and iwi, saying their support helped ensure the operation was completed safely and without incident.
