There are renewed moves to shift the rusting Oceanlinx wave energy generator from Coniston Beach more than eight years after it was placed in the surf near Port Kembla in 2006.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
The generator, designed to convert the ocean swell and waves into electricity, was decommissioned in 2009 but has sat rusting away 150 metres off the beach near the coal loader ever since.
Last April, Oceanlinx went into receivership with the company owing secured creditors $7 million and investors a further $3 million.
Investment company KordaMentha was appointed as receivers for the company and said last October that Oceanlinx had insufficient resources to move the rusting hulk.
At that time it was thought the NSW government would be responsible for moving the unit and then claim as a creditor against the company.
Roads and Maritime Services has now called for expressions of interest (EOIs) to remove and dispose of the wave generator.
Illawarra Innovative Industry Network (i3net) executive officer Andrew Jeffery advised i3net members about the potential opportunity for business last week after seeing the call for expressions of interest on the online tendering service, NSW eTendering.
That document reveals the removal of the wave generator would be a two-stage process and the EOI request was for the first stage.
It called for EOIs from qualified and experienced organisations that could "demonstrate an understanding of the proposed work and offer viable solutions".
The EOI stage closes at 2.30pm on January 28.
That will be followed by the evaluation of submissions.
Selected organisations will then be invited to submit a tender for the removal and disposal of the generator.
■ December 2006: The ‘‘Mark 1’’ wave power generator installed by Oceanlinx in waters off the Port Kembla coal loader.
■ June 2009: Oceanlinx claims the wave generator "achieved the milestone of 500 operational hours".
■ Late 2009: The wave generator was decommissioned as Oceanlinx plans to focus attention on the Southern Ocean.
■ December 2011: Port Kembla-based demolition and recycling firm the Kilpatrick Group is engaged to remove the wave generator.
■ July 2012: Oceanlinx chief executive Ali Baghaei says the Kilpatrick Group had been replaced by a new contractor and promises the plant’s removal within months.
■ March 2013: Roads and Maritime Services announces plans to take Oceanlinx to court over its failure to remove the generator. The action is dropped once Oceanlinx agrees to co-operate.
■ July 2013: Company chairman Tibor Vertes says Oceanlinx would try to remove the generator by the end of the year.
■ Late 2013: Illawarra-based contractor Blue Sky Services is appointed to remove the wave generator.
■ April 2014: Oceanlinx goes into receivership.
