PRIESTMAN GRAB CRANE 1945-1968
Description
Pontoon A dredge
Construction
Steel
Size
197 tonnes length 21.35m beam 7.32m
Built
prior 1945
Owner
Public Works Dept.
Sunk
Capsized in fast current 1968/08/06
Location
100m upstream of the old Fremantle Traffic Bridge
Latitude/Longitude
(-32.0411, 115.755433)
Sinking
In November 1954, she was working with another dredge the Parmelia, at number 10 berth North Quay, when she sank and settled on the bottom. She was raised at a cost of $2,400 and she sank again in june 1961 beside the jetty at Ellam street, Victoria Park, but was raised once more by the P.W.D. In December 1963, she was used to help salvage the yacht Panama, and in 1964 the authorized working pressure for her boiler was reduced from 110 lb.psi to 70lb. psi. At 2.30 pm on the 6th august 1968, flood water conditions produced a fast current and having just taken on 6 tons of coal, the vessel being towed by the Avon, capsized and sank to the bottom where her remains now lie. She was stripped of her jib and machinery and blasted to allow river traffic to pass without difficulty. The information above was obtained from the P.W.D. file and Jim Kleast was then diver in charge.
Underwater
stripped of machinery and blasted to reduce hazard to river traffic However, it’s position in relation to navigation channels precludes un-authorised diving.
Gallery
