Australia's fastest currents add to Centaur search challenge: Lucas

Deputy Premier and Minister for Health
The Honourable Paul Lucas
03/07/2009
Australia's fastest currents add to Centaur search challenge: Lucas

Dealing with the Australian seaboard's fastest currents and dramatic underwater depth variations in the search area are clear challenges for the AHS Centaur search team, Deputy Premier Paul Lucas said today.

Mr Lucas, representing Premier Anna Bligh, today introduced Centaur search project manager British-based David Mearns to a stakeholder group at Parliament House.

"Resolving the Centaur mystery is of great national significance," said the Deputy Premier.

The Australian Hospital Ship Centaur was sunk by a Japanese submarine, east of Moreton Island on May 14, 1943. Of the 332 people on board, only 64 survived.

"The exact location remains a mystery and David Mearns' Bluewater Recoveries is reviewing and reanalysing all available data before beginning the search proper.

"The search proper, dependent on vessel and equipment availability, is likely to take place over the coming summer; but that is yet to be confirmed," said Mr Lucas.

Premier Anna Bligh wrote to the Prime Minister in May last year seeking his support to find the Centaur.

The Prime Minister agreed and as result the two governments have each committed $2 million to the search and, late in 2008, a Joint Government Steering Committee was formed to oversee the project.

One of the Committee's first acts was to appoint the project manager.

Bluewater Recoveries was chosen from more than 10 national and international firms.

Mr Mearns' past successes include the HMAS Sydney, HMS Hood and he holds the Guinness World Record for the deepest shipwreck ever found, the German Rio Grande, located at a depth of 5,762 metres.

Mr Lucas said that estimates are that AHS Centaur could rest at a depth of up to two to three kilometres.

"David's intense studies have found that current flow off the South East Queensland coast is the quickest in Australia.

"The search area - built on the positions offered by Centaur's Navigating officer Gordon Rippon - placed Centaur east-northeast of Point Lookout on North Stradbroke Island.

"This - and all the best available information - has to be considered and reconsidered, before putting to sea.

"As well the very latest bathymetry (study of underwater depths) released publicly for the first time today, shows just how dramatic the terrain is in the search area.

"All of this makes finding Centaur a real challenge and David and his team will give it their best shot," he said.

The Prime Minister has said that if the search is successful, suitable memorial activities will be undertaken to acknowledge AHS Centaur's resting place and it will be duly declared as an historic shipwreck under the Historic Shipwrecks Act 1976 in recognition of its social and historical significance to all Australians.

Attendees at today's briefing included the Committee, Centaur Asso ciation representatives, RSL and historian Captain Foley.

"This is an important part of Queensland and Australia's history and for the sake of those who died, and their loved ones it is right that we try to find its last resting place," Mr Lucas said.

Permanent Link: Australia's fastest currents add to Centaur search challenge: Lucas
Publish Date: 05 Jul 09