Australian authorities say they are working with the international owner of a “massive” unmanned barge that has washed up on a remote island in the Torres Strait.
The 100-metre barge, Nelly 112, was empty with no people, cargo or pollutants on board when it washed up on Athikho Poji Island, a part of the Badu Island archipelago about 2 kilometres away.
It is understood to have drifted from Indonesia during bad weather.
An Indonesian company owns the barge, Nelly 112. (Supplied)
Badu Island traditional owner Edmund Tamwoy was one of the first responders to attend the barge.
“It’s massive … it’s bigger than some of the islands around Badu … it’s that big and noticeable, you won’t miss it,” he said.
Mr Tamwoy said Maritime Safety Queensland (MSQ) first contacted him about the vessel on January 27.
“People are saying it looks like Noah’s Ark landed on Badu Island,” he said.
In a statement, MSQ said it would be salvaged.
“The vessel’s owner has confirmed they have engaged a salvage team to recover the barge and return it to Indonesia, in line with all Australian authority requirements,” the spokesperson said.
“Maritime Safety Queensland will continue working with all relevant parties until the matter is resolved.”
Indonesian-based shipping company, PT Pelayaran Nelly Dwi Putri, launched a boat of the same name in October 2024, according to the company’s social media.
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It is unclear if it is the current owner, but the ABC has contacted the Indonesian stock exchange-listed company for comment.
A spokesperson for the Department of Primary Industries, responsible for Biosecurity Queensland, said the abandoned vessel had not been reported to them and that Australian Border Force (ABF) was the primary agency for border control.
Meanwhile, ABF said it was a matter for MSQ.
The Torres Strait Island Regional Council declined to comment on Monday.
Mr Tamwoy said he was baffled by the thought of a vessel of that size drifting thousands of kilometres on the open ocean, only to land on his doorstep.
“The tides are ripping, but how did it land on Badu?” he said.
“Nobody can answer because there was nobody there to see it when it landed.”
The ghost barge landing has coincided with a recent influx of illegal foreign fishing vessels throughout north Queensland waters.
‘Never seen magnitude’ of foreign vessels in Far North Queensland, locals say
Mr Tamwoy said surveillance needed to be increased to prevent further incursions and that the Torres Strait community had a role to play.
“We need to be monitoring these things for the safety of our community in Torres Strait,” he said.
“We need to be alert … everybody [here is] alert and keeping an eye out for it.”Finders-keepers?
Mr Tamwoy, the owner of a quarry business on Badu Island, said if it was not claimed by its owner, he would happily salvage it.
“It’s a big barge and it’d be useful for me to move dirt or freight around the Torres Strait in the future,” Mr Tamwoy said.
Mr Tamwoy says he wants to salvage the barge if the Indonesian company is happy to relinquish ownership. (Supplied)
“I’ve already looked at dates for the next month for when the high tides are in [so we can] move it out of there.”