Torbay Salvage
Cyclone Narelle battered the Exmouth Coast on the 27 March 2026, bringing with it destructive winds of up to 200Km/h.
During the storm, the Torbay broke its mooring lines in the harbour, causing it to shift along the berth before settling in a precarious position on a storm surge tide. Once the water levels returned to normal, the Torbay remained grounded.
Indianic was engaged by Bhagwan Marine to provide a salvage master and specialist salvage team to recover the grounded vessel and safely relocate it onto the hardstand.
Services Provided
- Salvage Management & Leadership
- Commercial Diving and Underwater Operations
- Specialised Salvage Equipment Supply and Mobilisation
- Remote Project Logistics and Support
- Equipment Redundancy and Contingency Management
- Vessel Refloating and Recovery Operations
Led by Salvage Master Nigel Rees, Indianic delivered the salvage management, specialist diving personnel, and purpose-built equipment required to refloat the grounded vessel.
Operating in the remote environment of Exmouth, the project demanded extensive equipment redundancies and contingency planning to maintain operational continuity and minimise downtime throughout the recovery.
The Challenge
The Torbay was listing on a 20-degree angle to port, with its keel and propulsion system resting against a batter wall. Limited water depth significantly complicated refloating efforts, while damage to the hull plating required assessment and repair under challenging access conditions.
Access to the vessel presented additional safety risks. Oily surfaces made movement hazardous, access ladders were unusable, and the vessel’s extreme list restricted safe entry and exit. Equipment and materials within the hull had shifted during the grounding, rendering normal access routes inaccessible, while unsecured items remained on deck.
The severe angle of heel also raised concerns regarding vessel stability, with the potential for further movement or rolling presenting a significant safety risk to personnel involved in the recovery operation.
The Solution
To facilitate safe diving operations, the team installed additional backup mooring lines with support from Exmouth Civil and heavy haulage equipment. Loose and displaced items around the vessel were secured, enabling personnel to safely access and work on the hull.
Temporary access to the vessel was established through the fish hold, utilising modified access points and temporary ladders. Once safe access was achieved, divers sealed the damaged section of the hull, repaired leaking access doors and portholes, and dewatered the vessel to restore buoyancy.
Following the successful dewatering operation, Bhagwan’s Abrolhos was mobilised to reposition the Torbay clear of the batter wall. Through a carefully planned ballasting strategy, the team progressively righted the vessel, enabling it to be safely recovered onto the hardstand at the Quayside lifting facility.
Outcome / Result
- Successful refloating and recovery of the grounded vessel within six days and delivered ahead of schedule.
- Safe lifting and relocation of a vessel weighing in excess of 200 tonnes.
- Recovery completed without incident, injury, or further environmental impact.
- Effective project planning, coordination, and execution in a remote operating environment.
- Positive outcome delivered for Bhagwan Marine and Seaharvest.
- Mitigated environmental and community concerns through the successful and timely recovery of the Torbay.
