Thousands gather for frigate's sinking

TV One, New Zealand, Nov 13, 2005

The sinking of the HMNZS Wellington off the capital's coast has gone without hitch, in front of an audience of thousands.

Watch Video Clips:     Thousands gather for frigate's sinking (Nov. 13) Scuttled frigate opens to divers (Nov. 14)

Wellington's south coast was filled with sightseers and Island Bay swarmed with boats watching the scuttling.

Deafening cannons on shore were followed by a series of explosions on the 113 metre vessel, now known simply as F69.

The organisers were worried 40 knot winds might turn the vessel on its side, but the scuttling went according to plan, taking under two minutes for the frigate to sink 26 metres to the sea bed.

F69 spent 36 years' in the service of the Royal Navy and the Royal New Zealand Navy.

It was launched by the Royal Navy in 1969 as HMS Bacchante and then in 1983 transferred to the Royal New Zealand Navy which renamed it HMNZS Wellington.

Sinking F69 Trust chair Marco Zeeman said the Wellington's last voyage took two hours on Sunday morning, when it was towed by two tugs from its berth at the Taranaki wharf outside Te Papa.

The scuttling was originally to take place on Saturday afternoon, but bad weather forced organisers to postpone it for 24 hours.

A protest group took advantage of the scuttling to voice its concerns over plans to sell coastal land near the site of the sinking.

The Southern Environmental Association wants to stop Wellington City Council selling part of the southern coastal park.

Spokesperson Robert Logan says with attractions such as the frigate adding to the area's appeal, it would be wrong to privatise the land. He says the council needs to ensure the land stays in public hands so it may be used by visitors and tourists visiting the south coast.

The vessel, which will become an artificial marine reef and dive attraction, will now be checked by police divers before being opened to public divers.

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