HNNZS Canterbury to be sunk

[Dave Homewood]

What a waste!!

www.nzherald.co.nz/section/1/story.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=10415850

Frigate to become dive attraction
Monday December 18, 2006

Resource consent has been granted to sink the decommissioned frigate Canterbury as an artificial reef and dive attraction in Deep Water Cove in the outer Bay of Islands.

The Northland Regional Council has granted the Bay of Islands Canterbury Charitable Trust permission to sink the 3000-tonne vessel in 30m of water on the northern side of the cove.

The trust plans to sink the 113m frigate, probably in June or July next year. It will be towed from Devonport to Opua in the New Year to be prepared for scuttling.

[corsair67]

What a bloody waste.

As a display at a national maritime museum far more people would be able to enjoy looking around this ship, rather than just a few lucky divers once it's sunk.

[Dave Homewood]

Indeed, and it would last a lot longer too. This decision really annoys me.

Southland is our only decommissioned frigate left after this is sunk. I wonder how long it will last.

It is especially annoying after the disastrous sinking of HMNZS Wellington which was meant to form a reef too, but within days was smashed to pieces in the currents!