Contract signed to salvage sunken boat at Thames but council mum on costs

Wednesday, 22 April 2026

A plan to salvage a sunken decrepit and disowned boat in Thames has been confirmed but the regional council has refused to divulge how much it will cost ratepayers.

The sunken boat, known as Rewa Rules locally, has been sitting on the bottom of the seafloor on its side at Thames Wharf following Cyclone Vaianu.

Although Waikato Regional Council has been unable to ascertain ownership of the 12-metre steel vessel, which it called the MV Gleaner in a statement, a solution has been found.

“Trojan Marine Services Ltd (John Norman) has accepted the task of salvaging MV Gleaner,’’ a WRC spokesperson said.

“The vessel will be floated using recovery tow trucks, divers, and support vessels, and then relocated upstream to a slipway for Phase Two: scrapping of vessel.’’

The cost of the operation has not been revealed. Waikato Times asked a regional council spokesperson three times for the amount but they did not respond by deadline.

Trojan Marine Service owner John Norman said the job was fairly straight forward for the Tairua-based salvage specialists.

“It’s just another day at the office for us,’’ he said.

Although it was not a working vessel, a suspected fuel leak was noted following its sinking.

Regional Council on-scene response commander George McQuillan said experienced marine oil spill responders continue to check at least twice a day.

“While some minor discharge has occurred and obviously we would prefer none, it’s extremely thin – less than 0.1 microns – and the total volume is estimated be less than half a cupful.

“We have placed absorbent booms in the most practicable way possible where they won’t just get swept away by the strong currents but such light discharges do break down quickly through natural weathering and wave action so any acute risk is very short lived.'