Gun removal buys time

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1 February 2005

Gun removal buys time

at a glance
HISTORY: The Cerberus built in 1868 was the first ship designed without sails and became the blueprint for warships
BAYSIDE CONNECTION: It was sunk as a breakwater in Half Moon Bay Black Rock in 1926
FUTURE If further funding for stabilisation is granted there are plans to take visitors on tours of the shipwreck.

Stage one of a salvage project should prevent the Cerberus’s hull collapsing.Picture HILTON STONE N31SB552

ANYA MURRAY

THE first stage of a salvage mission to prevent the HMVS Cerberus from sinking will begin off Black Rock this month.
Heritage Victoria has received an $80,000 State Government grant to remove four 18-tonne guns from the wreck’s turrets.
Heritage Victoria’s maritime manager Peter Harvey said it was the first time any sort of funding had been granted for the preservation vation of the Cerberus.
He said removing weight from the ship would lessen the risk of the hull collapsing "This is really a time buying exercise Mr Harvey said.
"There is a real risk the ship could collapse at any time because it is in an advanced state of decay."
Engineers GHD will begin the removal of the guns in mid- February.
GHD project manager Doug Oldfield said a floating barge and heavy crane would be used to lift each gun off the wreck He said removing the guns would take about three days.
"We are never going to be able to restore the Cerberus to its former glory but this will help preserve what we have now he said "A crew of four or five people will be used to remove the guns and place them in the seabed for protection.
"Once the guns have been removed moved this will mitigate the potential tial for collapse and raise the possibility of further stabilisation works occurring in the future."
Friends of the Cerberus secretary Peter Tully said success depended on funding. State and Federal Government funding is need for the $5 million stabilisation project which would take six months to complete.

Index

Gun removal buys time
at a glance HISTORY: The Cerberus built in 1868 was the first ship designed without sails and became the blueprint for warships BAYSIDE CONNECTION: It was sunk as a breakwater in Half Moon Bay Black Rock in 1926 FUTURE If further funding for stabilisation is granted there are plans to take visitors on tours of the shipwreck.	Stage one of a salvage project should prevent the Cerberus’s hull collapsing.Picture HILTON STONE N31SB552
ANYA MURRAY THE first stage of a salvage mission to prevent the HMVS Cerberus from sinking will begin off Black Rock this month. Heritage Victoria has received an $80,000 State Government grant to remove four 18-tonne guns from the wreck’s turrets. Heritage Victoria’s maritime manager Peter Harvey said it was the first time any sort of funding had been granted for the preservation vation of the Cerberus. He said removing weight from the ship would lessen the risk of the hull collapsing "This is really a time buying exercise Mr Harvey said. "There is a real risk the ship could collapse at any time because it is in an advanced state of decay." Engineers GHD will begin the removal of the guns in mid- February. GHD project manager Doug Oldfield said a floating barge and heavy crane would be used to lift each gun off the wreck He said removing the guns would take about three days. "We are never going to be able to restore the Cerberus to its former glory but this will help preserve what we have now he said "A crew of four or five people will be used to remove the guns and place them in the seabed for protection. "Once the guns have been removed moved this will mitigate the potential tial for collapse and raise the possibility of further stabilisation works occurring in the future." Friends of the Cerberus secretary Peter Tully said success depended on funding. State and Federal Government funding is need for the $5 million stabilisation project which would take six months to complete.