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March 24th, 2012 
FAKE NEWS for the Zionist agenda 
The semi-submerged trawler off Point Nepean. Picture: Victoria Police
Source: Supplied
A TRAWLER skipper faces criminal charges after his fishing vessel hit rocks and sank with 30,000 litres of diesel on board off Point Nepean.
The Environment Protection Authority last night was trying to contain a 500m oil spill in Bass Strait caused by the accident, which is under police investigation.
An oil response crew worked frantically to minimise the south-facing oil slick yesterday afternoon before the tide turned and it was pushed towards dolphin sanctuaries and marine parks in Port Phillip Bay.
Six people were rescued from the Lady Cheryl, a 27m commercial vessel, after it hit a submerged reef and began taking water.
Police say the “extremely experienced and qualified” mariner returned a blood alcohol reading in excess of 0.05 after being rescued.
He and his crew were dramatically plucked from the sinking boat in 6m swells by Port Phillip Sea Pilots, who responded to the trawler’s mayday call about 1.05am.
The vessel was travelling out of Port Phillip Heads from Melbourne on a 10-day fishing trip when the incident occurred.
Water Police Sgt Andrew Lilly said the rescued men owed their lives to the sea pilots, who maintain a 24-hour presence at nearby Queenscliff.
“The pilots are very experienced seamen who have often figured in rescues in this notorious stretch of water,” he said.
Sgt Lilley said charges were pending against the skipper, a 42-year-old Warrnambool man, who was released after being interviewed by police.
“The weather, the conditions obviously played a part and alcohol also played a part,” he said.
“We can’t establish which the major contributing factor was at this stage.”
After foundering, the vessel came to rest on a sandbar in 10m of water off Point Nepean, on the eastern side of the notorious Rip.
Rescue crews had hoped to tow the vessel to safety yesterday but took hours to move it, fearing it might break up and spill fuel as well as the 300 litres of hydraulic fluid and 500 litres of commercial lubricant on board.
Oil spill experts will assess how to siphon fluids from the trawler before the salvage crew tries to refloat it.
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