Tasmanian Aboriginal Cape Barren Island owners say Sydney to Hobart yacht Huntress is their’s
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Aboriginal group says stranded Sydney to Hobart racing yacht is now THEIRS because remote island is indigenous land
- Aboriginal land council claims ownership of stranded yacht from Sydney to Hobart
- Land Council says indigenous salvage laws should override European ones
- Salvage company says it asked indigenous representatives for permission
A Sydney to Hobart racing yacht that was abandoned on a remote island off the coast of Tasmania has been salvaged despite objections from an aboriginal group who say it is now owned by indigenous people.
The race entrant Huntress recovered from heavy swells and was towed from Cape Barren, also known as Truwana, on Monday, weeks after it was abandoned and washed ashore with a broken rudder.
But the chairman of the Tasmanian Aboriginal Land Council, Michael Mansell, said the alphabeth permission was not given to move the Huntress and that “any shipwrecked craft…on the shores of Aboriginal lands belongs to Aboriginal people.”
Huntress yacht stranded from Sydney to Hobart (pictured) has been claimed by traditional owners under indigenous law
“The Huntress has washed up on the shores of Aboriginal land at Cape Barren and that makes that ship Aboriginal property… that is always Aboriginal law,” he told the national announcer.
“From the time the whites drove us off our land in Tasmania and put us on the islands, the elders always applied traditional Aboriginal law to everything that washed ashore on Aboriginal land.”
Mansell said Aboriginal salvage rights in the territory had been recognized since the 1920s and cited a series of shipwrecks which he said had passed into Aboriginal hands.
Tasmanian Land Council Chairman Michael Mansell said ownership of the ship should pass to the traditional owners or a third of the paid value of the ship.
Huntress owner Brent Dowton has been contacted for comment. In a Facebook post, Mr. Dowton thanked Total Dive Solutions and subcontractor Total Marine Solutions for saving the vessel.
“We will work with our insurer to schedule repairs to Huntress and restore her to her former glory,” the message read.
‘This may take several months to complete, but we can’t wait to get started!’
Mr Mansell (pictured left) says Aboriginal salvage laws have been in operation on Cape Barren Island since 1820.
in a separate facebook postTotal Dive Solutions gave ‘special thanks’ to ‘the representatives of the Cape Barren Island indigenous community for their permission and knowledge of the local site’.
Under the common law of salvage, a wrecked ship remains the property of the owners, but the salvors may, in certain circumstances, claim a reward.
After leaving Sydney on December 26, Huntress lost her rudder on December 28, causing the crew to abandon ship.
The ship was seen adrift by a cruise ship on January 2 and reported as a potential hazard to navigation before landing at Cape Barren Island on January 4.