Published on Tuesday, 1 December 2020 at 10:52:00 AM
In July 1976 a Taiwanese fishing vessel, the FU LONG 11, was arrested for illegal fishing in Australian waters.
It was escorted into Geraldton Harbour by the Royal Australian Navy. During a fierce storm the FU LONG 11 broke away from its anchorage and was swept north.
It settled temporarily on the reefs at Bluff Point. Further strong southerlies saw it stranded on the beach near the mouth of the Chapman River. On August 10th 1976 100 tons of frozen fish was unloaded from the stricken vessel. Complex and protracted salvage operations were successfully undertaken by Mr Bill Newbold of the Geraldton Tug Company. In 1977 the confiscated vessel was purchased by a Fremantle syndicate. It was gutted and re-fitted as a mother-ship for trawlers. It was re-named THE GERALDTON ENDEAVOUR. Finally it operated as a tender ship for off-shore oil rigs.
The Geraldton Historical Society has the FU LONG's anchor on display outside its Lighthouse Keepers Cottage in Bluff Point.
Image courtesy of Stan Gratte, caption by Jim Trevaskis.
Snapshots is an initiative of the Geraldton Regional Library. For more information, or to donate a historical photo or slide to the Library, contact Heritage Services at the Geraldton Regional Library on 9956 6659 or library@cgg.wa.gov.au
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