A tall metal container of unknown origin has been found floating in the Gulf of Carpentaria.
Key parts:
- A tall metal container has been found floating in the Gulf of Carpentaria
- Container has been marked and flagged with maritime authorities
- Marine debris is an ever-gift space on the Arnhem Land flee
The crew of the Wildcard fishing vessel spotted the article to the north-east of Groote Eylandt whereas buying for mackerel this week.
“It be about 5 metres by 3 metres by 4 meters — it be a sizeable chunk of metal,” the Wildcard’s Tiger Davey said.
“It must be rather empty on yarn of it is miles floating goal below the skin, bobbing in and out of the water.
“We were simplest passing about 300 metres off [the container] when we spotted it.
“Whenever you happen to weren’t paying consideration or it was as soon as evening time, it is miles highly unlikely that it can well were visible on radar or viewed by anyone.”
The Wildcard pulled up beside the container, with a crew member diving into the water to see the article, however they were unable to commence its hatch.
Mr Davey said it was as soon as not a frequent shipping container.
“We predict it be a gas pod or some form of storage pod on yarn of it has some lifting lugs and a mammoth hatch on the cease,” he said.
“It has a hose coming off it, so I’d direct it be off a ship and it be been misplaced overboard or dropped.”
The container was as soon as too mammoth for the Wildcard to tow to a rep plight, so the crew tied a marker buoy to it and flagged it as a navigational hazard with maritime authorities.
Marine debris a predominant space in Gulf
The Gulf of Carpentaria has a predominant marine debris space, with ghost nets, fishing equipment, and rubbish from Indonesia and Papua Sleek Guinea usually washing up on a long way-off seashores.
“With the most predominant shipping routes now we fetch over the cease conclude of Australia, [the container] may perchance well even fetch attain from any place,” Mr Davey said.
“The currents push every little thing into the Gulf after which the south-easterly winds push every little thing over to this facet [near Groote Eylandt].
“Because of the this truth the gigantic space with ghost nets and rubbish on this western facet of the Gulf … now we fetch rather rather of flotsam and nets through this arrangement.”
Maritime Security NT has issued a marine navigation warning in regards to the container.
“A coastal sight to mariners has been issued for the waters off North East Groote Eylandt after a tall floating container was as soon as spotted in the arrangement,” the Maritime Security NT sight said.
“All vessels in the neighborhood to retain a fascinating lookout and navigate with crude warning.”