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ENVIRONMENTAL TRAGEDY IN BALI
Taiwanese fishing boat dry-docked at Padang Padang; efforts to remove proving unsuccessful as new swell fills in
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VIEWS:85131
COMMENTS:140
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By:
Jon/Uluwatuphoto
All photos and captions: Jon/Uluwatuphoto
July 19, 2008
Labuhan Sait, Bali.
The mission to tow away the 115-foot Taiwanese Fishing Boat that came ashore in the middle of the reef at Padang Padang last Friday evening has turned into a clean-up and containment operation. The boat is now smashed up full of holes and sitting on the inner reef. |
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Over the next two days, villagers and fishermen concentrated on removing the fish and anything of value from the boat, while surfers and photographers focused on using the boat as a backdrop for interesting photos. What had come onto the reef as a fishing boat in perfect seagoing condition was reduced to a stinking, hull, spewing oil and fuel into the ocean causing an oil slick that reached from Bingin to Uluwatu. The Fishing Vessel Ho Tsai Fa BJ4699 was reported missing one month ago when the boat stopped communicating with its home office in Taiwan. Authorities from Taiwan believe the Captain may have been murdered by the Indonesian crew, who then returned with the boat and drove it ashore and abandoned the boat hoping to escape into Bali. On Monday a group of local surfers, surfing companies, and environmental organizations began to discuss a plan to remove the boat from the reef with the local authorities. Due to the ongoing criminal investigation surrounding the disappearance of the captain and crew, the boat itself had become evidence and under the jurisdiction of the Indonesian Marine Police. By all accounts the operation was a huge disappointment. We missed our window of opportunity to pull the boat off of the reef and its fate was sealed by nightfall as swell filled into the area.
During a week of uncharacteristic, lake-like flatness, a plan to remove the boat from the reef was put together by the Marine Police and an operation was scheduled for Thursday when the tides would be highest. With a large westerly swell forecasted for Friday morning, it was a one-shot deal. Wednesday evening on the low tide ropes and buoys would be affixed to the boat and Thursday morning at 6am several large fishing boats were to be coordinated on site and tow the boat off of the reef on the incoming tide. This did not happen. On Wednesday night two of the fishermen who were affixing the lines and buoys were injured, one of them hospitalized, and word got back to the rest of the fleet that it was too dangerous to attempt. Thursday morning dawned with ideal flat conditions and a beach full of hopeful surfers and lifeguards waiting to rush out and help affix the ropes to the boats for towing. At 7am the information was released that the boats were not coming and a group of surfers immediately rushed off to the port in Jimbarran to plead with the police and fishermen to act quickly and get the boats on site. After two hours of negotiations, the boats left port and arrived on site 45 minutes later. By the time the ropes were set and boats were in formation to attempt to tow the Ho Tsai Fa off of the reef the tide had already turned and it was too late. Chris Moore from the Role Foundation was one of the people who spent the morning swimming in diesel and wading through shin-deep rotten sardines and diesel sludge. "At one point we did move the boat, but it was just for one moment. We were just too late. If we were just one hour earlier, or had we been able to use a Tug Boat, we would have been able to pull the boat off." By all accounts the operation was a huge disappointment. We missed our window of opportunity to pull the boat off of the reef and its fate was sealed by nightfall as swell filled into the area. By Friday morning, there was 6-foot tubes breaking over the boat and long lines from the Southern Indian Ocean pushed the Ho Tsai Fa onto the inner reef and ruptured the hull. Friday and Saturday, the same group of concerned surfers who had been trying so hard to get the boat towed off of the reef continued to work at what is now a clean up and containment mission. The Role Foundation, as well as representatives from surfing companies, and local surfers have been doing their best, with limited manpower and resources to remove as much oil and fuel from the boat, as well as anything that can be taken off of the boat now, before a larger swell hits on Monday. "The situation is not good," says Michael O'Leary, director of the Role Foundation. "We are doing our best to contain this mess, but with a large swell forecasted on Monday we are worried this boat is going to break into pieces. We have a long road ahead of us with this if Padang Padang and the surrounding areas are ever going get cleaned up." Comments: (140) Add Your Comment
07/24/2008 08:13 AM
how about if ya dont surf dont say anything.... this needs to get fixed and eventually it will; bottom line.
Some dude 07/24/2008 03:03 AM
It didnt ruin the break... look at the pictures it just made it cooler. The fuel pollution will dissipate, the sea life will rebound and eventually it will just be a break with a shipwreck... possibly even a tourist attraction. Besides when was the last time you guys even surfed there... umm never. This isnt a big deal infact its kind of cool if you look at the pictures, surfing next to a shipwreck that is not in the way of the break is awesome.
Re: Selfish 07/24/2008 12:14 AM
You are really concerned with the people who died on the boat? F them..How can you call the surfers selfish when they are concerned about the environmental impacts on the surrounding area;for the people who live in Bali and rely on its fisheries for survival. YOU really think that this is just about a sweet surf spot? Wake up and learn something about environmental damage caused by oil. Ever heard of Exxon Valdez oil spill? Stop being so ignorant and blaming the surfers who are trying to fix it
Jason B 07/23/2008 08:49 PM
Surf hotel. lol is that really what people care about making this tragedy into?
Renny 07/23/2008 07:42 PM
You stupid tree-huggers make me sick!
Da Lion of Judah 07/23/2008 06:39 PM
Okay thats some bull*&%@, I thought America had the worst politics, hello 2 hours was wasted in negotiations to get the frickin boat off the reef, It shows all goverments dont care about the enviroment, they are not worthy to run
Blame it on Gagnon 07/23/2008 06:11 PM
Selfish - you are uninformed and making an uneducated comment. you should read and type less. I'm a surfer I am VERY UNSELFISH.
Can I help you with something Selfish?
Peace out!
jg
PO's in So Cal 07/23/2008 03:58 PM
This is typical for Balinese Marine Police...It's too bad some one like Surfrider or PEDA can't get involved. Lets just tell them that it was a dolphin rescue boat and the hippies willhave it out in no-time.
sam 07/23/2008 03:57 PM
Just to support the taken actions by surfers to save this unique spot. This is a prove of the power we have as tribes who care about life in our planet...Good luck with the next intent!!! If i could i'd just take a plane and help you all!!
njsurfer 07/23/2008 01:24 PM
to selfish:
you kidding me?? these maniacs turned on and killed the capt' then ran the boat into the reef and we are supposed to feel sorry/worried about THEM? Screw them! They screwed a beautiful beach and storied wave. Hope they receive the same fate they instilled on the captain.
Da Durban 07/23/2008 11:20 AM
Every time we have a ship go aground on our reefs in America we dont ask for another country to help us!
We take care if it ourselfs! Sorry but we allways help the world! But the world never helps America!
They just take take take!
PONI UP CUZ!!
Clean your own back yard Rubulic of Indonesia....and the ship owner from TAIWAN should fork up the cash!
Shocked 07/23/2008 09:29 AM
I love how everyone has an opinion and how "it will be just fine". For all we know that fuel tank could be full just on the brink of polluting and making a lot of people sick. Stop polluting this forum and start researching helpful tools/resources to provide to the cause. Or you can sit back and fester in a ball of negativity and post critical comments.
RaguRipper 07/23/2008 09:28 AM
It was suggested to make it a SURF HOTEL!!!
John Parker 07/23/2008 08:39 AM
This needs more media interest to pressure the Govt. to get moving on the removal and cleanup. Where are all the enviromentalist? Why are they not raising Cain over this? If this happened in the U.S. they would be all over it!
selfish 07/23/2008 08:05 AM
people died on this boat and everybody is concerned about a stupid beach??? Shows you where your minds are selfish surfers
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