It was the boat named Hammer’n that certainly copped a hammering, as it broke free from its moorings and was washed out of Wollongong Harbour onto Brighton Beach in the weekend’s storms.
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Salvage efforts for the 14-tonne vessel closed Cliff Road for hours on Monday afternoon, as contractors – led by Southern Commercial Divers – worked to lift it off the beach with a 350 tonne crane and load it onto a semi-trailer.
Company representative Rachael Griffin said the salvage required workers to dig out the sand underneath the boat and pump out water before lifting it.
Ms Griffin said a hole in the bottom of the boat meant it was not possible to wait for it to be re-floated in Monday night’s king tide which was expected to reach its highest point at 9pm.
Dozens of onlookers watched the spectacle, which kept the beachside road closed between Harbour Street and Georges Place from 2.30pm until after dark.
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