The Lady Cheryl
On the evening of 23 March 2012, the commercial fishing vessel FV Lady Cheryl departed Williamstown for a 10-day deep sea fishing voyage. It was intended that the vessel transit Port Phillip, depart through Port Phillip Heads and then set a course for the fishing grounds to the west of Tasmania. However, in the early hours of the following morning when abeam Shortland Bluff (Queenscliff) and still within Port Phillip, the Lady Cheryl altered course towards Point Nepean. The master did not notice the error and Lady Cheryl ran aground on the outlying reef at Point Nepean. The vessel was holed below its waterline and sank a short time later.
The 27 meter long fishing vessel Lady Cheryl ran aground near Point Nepean, Port Phillip Bay, Victoria, Australia. The vessel was headed out of port to fish in rough seas with swells up to 6 meters when it struck an object on the rocky bottom. All six crew on board the vessel were safely rescued by the water police. The vessel later sank with only a section of the stern visible surrounded by a fuel spill. The Lady Cheryl was fully loaded with 30,000 liters of diesel fuel at the time of the grounding. Authorities state the master of the vessel had tested positive for alcohol. Authorities are conducting an investigation into the incident.