Barge Nelly 112 Runs Aground in Torres Strait
The foreign-owned barge, Nelly 112, ran aground on Athikho Poji, a rocky islet in the Torres Strait, on January 26. The 100-meter barge may have drifted up to 2,000 kilometers from Indonesian waters.
Witness Account Emerges
Noel Gaunt, a retired commercial skipper now residing in Bali, reported seeing the Nelly 112 off the Balinese coast on January 17, nine days before it washed ashore.
He stated that the barge was being towed by a vessel he considered unsuitable for the task. Gaunt described it as a 50 to 60-foot towing vessel attempting to pull a barge well in excess of a hundred tonnes. He observed the towing vessel struggling to control the Nelly 112 within a channel of the Banda Sea.
Possible Scenario: Adrift in Severe Weather
Gaunt suggested a potential reason for the barge's journey: it might have been cut loose by its towing vessel to ensure the crew's safety during severe weather. This inclement weather affected the region in the days following his sighting.
Gaunt indicated that cutting a barge loose in severe weather would be a standard maritime safety procedure.
He also confirmed the plausibility of the barge drifting 2,000 kilometers from Indonesian waters to the Torres Strait due to currents over nine days.
Salvage Operation and Ownership Questions
Maritime Safety Queensland (MSQ) has contracted a salvage team with the goal of returning the barge to Indonesia. MSQ has arranged for inspectors to examine the barge but has not disclosed the owner's name, citing privacy reasons.
Edmund Tamwoy, a traditional owner from Badu Island, expressed initial interest in claiming the barge. However, Dr. Rosemary Gibson from the University of Queensland's marine and shipping law unit clarified a crucial point: "finders keepers" does not apply under maritime law when an owner can be traced.
Tamwoy has since indicated he is attempting to contact the owner directly to purchase the barge. Dr. Gibson advised evaluating salvage, repair, and ongoing maintenance costs, along with administrative hurdles, before making a bid.