SL/S/TANG/M/33

Wombat (1975) a barge and it has sunk in 1975.

The “Wombat” was under tow from Singapore with a load of mining equipment. In early 1975 it was off the south coast of Sri Lanka when, at night in heavy rain and rough weather, it was boarded by local fishermen who stole the waterproof canvas hatch covers. The barge slowly took on water and sank off Nilwella. The captain of the towing tug, a Korean, was armed and fired a few shots in the air, but the thieves got away.

In early 1975 diver Rex I. De Silva and Maxwell Parsons were hired by the insurers company to locate the wreck. They found it in a couple of days. In late March 1975 a Singapore salvage company arrived in their salvage tug to recover the cargo. Diver Howard Dias and Rex I. De Silva were hired to assist in the diving operations. According to Mr Rex I. De Silva, an oxy-arc cutting torch was used during these salvage operations. However, salvage operations were abandoned in early April with the onset of Southeast Monsoon weather. Only a part of the cargo was recovered.