Margie Maccoll
Whether it’s a breakdown, smash, rollover, sunken vehicle or boat, it’s more likely than not Clayton’s Towing will be on the spot, as they have been for more than 50 years in the region.
Based on the Sunshine Coast it was a long haul for the towies when they headed to one of their most difficult underwater rescues ever – to retrieve a 100-tonne, 99-year-old paddle steamer that had sunk six months earlier in the Thompson River at Longreach.
Mike Clayton said the historic vehicle, the Pride of the Murray, had been transported from Victoria to Longreach and sunk a year later.
Over six months it silted up with mud and sat in water with zero visibility.
Another contractor, Baldwin Boats, which had played a pivotal role in the transportation of the paddle steamer to Longreach, contacted Clayton’s for help.
Over two months they devised a recovery plan.
Mike said they sent a crew of 10 who made the journey in convoy to Longreach with all the necessary equipment, including excavators and a Mega Tow onboard low loaders.
“We organised divers (from Abco Commercial Diving team) to put straps around it. It’s so old we were concerned it wouldn’t take the strain. We had to make sure it wouldn’t come apart,“ he said.
Mike said the owners of the boat made a ramp down the embankment and they bought in more equipment to smooth the ramp to the boat and ensure there was nothing in its path.
The recovery from there took five days, three days dragging it out of the water.
“We had to keep stopping, adjusting and moving the straps around,“ Mike said. “There are always challenges as you go.
“The boys were pretty confident. In the end it all ran pretty perfectly. It stayed in one piece.“
Mike said it was a team effort that resulted in the success.
After the boat was surveyed to see if it could go back in the water it was decided to keep it on the bank, he said.
