The F69 HMNZS Wellington was sunk in Island Bay close to Wellington in New Zealand on 13 November last year, but now a 200m exclusion zone has been set up around the vessel while police divers assess the damage.
The wreck was buffeted by massive surges during a one-in-50-year storm that ravaged the Wellington coastline this week. After the storm debris was washed up on the beach of Island Bay, divers found that the wreck had broken its back just behind its twin-gun turret, with the stern section pushed around from a southerly to a north-westerly direction.
'There is no navigational risk but a large number of divers explore the wreck and we need to be sure that the F69 is still a safe place to dive,' said Captain Mike Pryce, Regional Harbourmaster. |
