Captain Proud still afloat despite minor leak
Emergency services have checked in on the River Murray paddle boat after it began taking on water at Murray Bridge’s wharf.
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The River Murray paddle boat Captain Proud will be out of action for a week or so after a minor Sunday afternoon drama.
Emergency services were called to Murray Bridge’s wharf around 2.40pm after the boat began taking on water.
However, her operators were able to use their own pumps to stabilise it.
Lessee Daniel Gilmore said the captain had noticed a bilge alarm as he prepared to depart on a 12pm cruise.
Crew members then found a small amount of water leaking into the hull through an intake pipe used for an on-board firefighting pump.
Per their safety procedures, they called the State Emergency Service to assess the situation.
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SA Metropolitan Fire Service spokesman Ryan Hansen said MFS crews from Murray Bridge and Adelaide had also taken part in the delicate operation.
“Once we’ve got here, we’ve done our initial investigation down below, where you can see the water entering the boat … down in the hull area,” he said.
“With what they had in place when we got here, we were keeping up with it.
“They‘ve been able to their pump-out facilities to deal with most of (the water) and it hasn’t got any worse.”
He credited the boat’s captain: “his wealth of knowledge has been fantastic”.
However, responders needed to be aware of oxygen levels and electrical hazards in the confined space within the hull, and to be prepared for a marine rescue in case things went pear-shaped.
Mr Gilmore said the Captain Proud would now need to be taken to a dry dock at Goolwa for repairs.
However, he estimated she would probably only be out of action for a week or less.
Frustratingly, the vessel had only recently completed a three-week stint in the dry dock.
Her operators also endured a months-long layoff during last summer’s floods.
Captain Proud Paddle Boat Cruises will contact affected customers.
Correction: Mr Gilmore is the lessee of the boat, not her owner.
