Deepening the Harbour

They say it's an ill wind that does not blow somebody some good, and for Nelson, the gale-force winds of a few months ago which brought down hundreds of acres of trees at Golden Downs are working to our benefit. To capitalise on this wind-blown timber in sales of the logs to Japan, a deeper harbour was necessary to allow the larger logging boats to enter Nelson. To this end the harbour board engaged the huge suction dredge Endeavour to do the job, and she has become a familiar sight as she works her way in, around and out of the harbour. The dredge is like a giant vacuum cleaner. From the starboard side it trails a 99 ft section pump that swallows the sea bed at a tremendous pace. This is discharged out at sea. There's no eight hour day here. The vessel works 24 hours a day, six days a week.

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The Endeavour swings behind the main wharf at the port. The two gantries on the starboard side hold the suction pipe.

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Water brought up in the pipeline spills over the top of the hopper.

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While the Endeavour is doing the lion's share of the work, the Tasman Bay carries on with its own chores alongside the wharf.