RMS NIAGARA - A state of collapse

A dive team, including NZUHG members, carried out a survey mid-March, of the WWII wreck of the RMS Niagara in Hauraki Gulf. The divers, Andrew Simpson, Darryl Lowndes and Dave Pearce were supported by safety divers Anne Harper and Evin Brown with Skipper Pete Mesley of Lust for Rust Expeditions in charge of the dive boat.
Diving to the wreck in 120-metres depth, the three divers using diver propulsion vehicles (dive scooters) arrived on the trawl-net-shrouded stern of the wreck. Breathing a 7/70 (7 percent oxygen & 70 percent helium) gas mixture and with the aid of their scooters they headed along the wreck over the remains of the now vertical standing decaying deck structure towards the bow. The once proud 159-metre-long vessel lies on her port side with the majority of the superstructure now collapsed onto the seabed.

The divers passed over a number of openings giving access into the hull interior but they did not penetrate. Andrew was equipped with a Mantis Sub RS360 housing enclosing an Insta RS One Edition 360-degree camera and filmed the dive. This camera system, which Andrew has been involved with development of, provided a 360-degree field of view giving unpresented video of the shipwreck. Images accompanying this report are from frame grabs taken off the video. The Mantis Sub camera systems are now being marketed and are creating great interest from underwater photographers, wreck divers and underwater archaeologists.

Arriving on the bow area, the divers were surrounded by torn and collapsed structure and cargo handling equipment. Their lights illuminated a scene of destruction and decay.

Ascending up onto the starboard side of the hull they then proceeded back along the wreck towards the stern passing over a section of the hull torn open by the salvage teams of 1941 and 1953 during their record gold recovery. Another twisted hull breech they passed is the area where the German mine had torn the lower hull open. The scheduled bottom time of 25 minutes elapsed and the divers began their ascent to the surface observing their planned decompression schedule, which resulted in a total in-water dive run time of 4 hours 35 minutes.

Comparing the images and video of this dive with imaging of the wreck recorded over the past 36 years, it is obvious the wreck is now fast collapsing. Features noted still intact in recent years have now disappeared and structural deterioration has greatly increased.

There is big concern from a number of quarters on how much fuel-oil may still remain trapped in the wreck, and much discussion on the need for a survey to assess the danger the fuel-oil may present. Also if a survey reveals large fuel-oil present, how could the oil be recovered before there is a major collapse of the wreck? From the recent imaging of the wreck, it is obvious time is running out and there is a need to decide how a major oil eruption would be contained and if there are local assets available to do this?