Anyone see the TV article on wrecks tonight?

[Frank 185]

22 hours ago, aardvarkash10 said:

His stat of 40% of approx 3500 vessels effectively abandoned at the mooring, and a disposal cost of $20000 each time with large steel vessels much more, a $50 annual fee increase is not going to go far.

Its confusing because in the interview "Matt from the Harbour Masters office" agrees with the interviewer that  Rate Payers are unaware they are picking up the tab, implying that rates are funding the salvage. 

[Frank 185]

10 hours ago, aardvarkash10 said:

Mooring fees don't pay for that though.  There is no part of the fee set aside for this.  The fees essentially go into council's consolidated fund and then the HM is funded from that.  No special jar labelled "getting rid of old shitters fund" that only gets income from mooring fees.

That's an accurate summary IMO. Stretching the topic but abandoned cars are also dealt with by local councils, some are shitters that tourists couldn't sell before departing the country, Q town is particularly bad apparently, still at least cars have a half decent scrap value and are cheaply recovered/transported.

[Frank 185]

4 hours ago, MartinRF said:

If you wait long enough even an old wreck can become an asset:

https://www.vasamuseet.se/en

/Martin

Likewise

https://maryrose.org/

Highly recommended if you are visiting those parts.

[Quattro 15]

14 hours ago, aardvarkash10 said:

Mooring fees don't pay for that though.  There is no part of the fee set aside for this.  The fees essentially go into council's consolidated fund and then the HM is funded from that.  No special jar labelled "getting rid of old shitters fund" that only gets income from mooring fees.

Ash.  I do recall that when that fee, $50 pa was added it was specifically to address the abandoned boats issue around Auckland.  There may be a thread on Crew about that, from several years ago.  

[aardvarkash10 1,139]

8 minutes ago, Quattro said:

Ash.  I do recall that when that fee, $50 pa was added it was specifically to address the abandoned boats issue around Auckland.  There may be a thread on Crew about that, from several years ago.  

I think you'll find it was worded as "...helps to pay for..." or similar.

In that respect, any income to the council helps to pay for what the council and therefore the HM does.

[Psyche 850]

On 4/07/2025 at 8:38 AM, aardvarkash10 said:

3500 moorings.  40% abandonment rate currently.  So 1400 potential hazards to be removed somehow - sale, or removal.  Sale is likely just a deferral, not a solution.

Even if the HM is overstating the problem by 50% and actual abandonments are "only" 700 in number, 2% disposal rate wouldn't even keep up with the natural inflows to the problem.

1400, that's a great little business right there. You could dispose of the bulk of the smaller shitters very efficiently, as many a day as you wanted if you had the resources it's not an unreasonable 3-5 year project.

[aardvarkash10 1,139]

2 hours ago, Psyche said:

1400, that's a great little business right there. You could dispose of the bulk of the smaller shitters very efficiently, as many a day as you wanted if you had the resources it's not an unreasonable 3-5 year project.

Suitable barge, $250,000

assume $0 value at the end of 10 years

Staff, 4 @ 75,000 pa, $300,000

Operating days per year, 150

Daily plant operating cost inc maintenance allowance, $2000, $300,000pa

Licences, fees etc, $2000 pa

Legals and accounting, $10,000 pa

Gross daily cost, no alliance for capital, profit line, tax etc, say $4500

1400 wrecks, projected 10 year period so 1 per day average

High risk activity, time limited, no exit strategy so 150% nett profit would be reasonable.  

Each wreck would be in the region of $12 to $15k average to make it work.

Maybe the mooring service guys might take it on, but it's not money for jam.

 

 

 

[Quattro 15]

2 hours ago, aardvarkash10 said:

Suitable barge, $250,000

assume $0 value at the end of 10 years

Staff, 4 @ 75,000 pa, $300,000

Operating days per year, 150

Daily plant operating cost inc maintenance allowance, $2000, $300,000pa

Licences, fees etc, $2000 pa

Legals and accounting, $10,000 pa

Gross daily cost, no alliance for capital, profit line, tax etc, say $4500

1400 wrecks, projected 10 year period so 1 per day average

High risk activity, time limited, no exit strategy so 150% nett profit would be reasonable.  

Each wreck would be in the region of $12 to $15k average to make it work.

Maybe the mooring service guys might take it on, but it's not money for jam.

 

 

 

🤔😩

[Quattro 15]

👍

[Psyche 850]

3 hours ago, aardvarkash10 said:

Suitable barge, $250,000

assume $0 value at the end of 10 years

Staff, 4 @ 75,000 pa, $300,000

Operating days per year, 150

Daily plant operating cost inc maintenance allowance, $2000, $300,000pa

Licences, fees etc, $2000 pa

Legals and accounting, $10,000 pa

Gross daily cost, no alliance for capital, profit line, tax etc, say $4500

1400 wrecks, projected 10 year period so 1 per day average

High risk activity, time limited, no exit strategy so 150% nett profit would be reasonable.  

Each wreck would be in the region of $12 to $15k average to make it work.

Maybe the mooring service guys might take it on, but it's not money for jam.

 

 

 

I'll clarify, it's not viable as a standalone business, it would depend on the details of the contract with the council. There are many businesses that are based on non market subsidies and this would be one of them.