MV Cape Don – a victim of political infighting?

by Vickie Smiles on 16 Jul 2008
NSW Maritime Dumps Historical Lighthouse Ship - MV Cape Don – a victim of political infighting?

Historical lightship, the MV Cape Don has received a letter from NSW Maritime, demanding that it vacates its mooring at the Old Coal Loader, Balls Head, Waverton, by 14 August, 2008.

Their aggressive manner in giving the ship and hundreds of restoration volunteers little more than a month to vacate has astounded the ship’s many supporters. Both North Sydney Council and NSW Maritime have strongly supported the MV Cape Don.

That NSW Maritime has suddenly changed its official attitude towards the not-for-profit organisation has confused everybody, especially when many who work for maritime are totally behind the project and its continued presence at Balls Head.

It would be a sad day if the MV Cape Don was to become a political football between warring factions with a government department, not to mention the slap in the face for a project that celebrates Australia’s maritime history.

By kicking the ship out of Balls Head and sending it to the 'dolphins' in Snails Bay, Balmain, the project loses wharf access, shore power and fresh water. Volunteers will not be able to access the ship and it will lose valuable relationships with the many students, police, customs and naval officers that regularly use the MV Cape Don as a training vessel.

NSW Maritime might just as well have signed the MV Cape Don’s death warrant and sent it to the bottom of Sydney Harbour! Gone will be a museum ship celebrating the finest of Australian shipbuilding, and gone will be dreams of making the vessel Australia’s first hospital and aid ship.

Derek Emerson-Elliott, founder and chairman of the trust that owns the MV Cape Don, has called upon everyone interested in preserving the MV Cape Don and all that she represents to fight the eviction order.