Canberra repairs progressing positively

Craig Burgess, the director of Murray River Paddlesteamers, said the two shipwrights working on the vessel indicated a return to the water was about a month away.

“We’ve decided to do a little extra work while we have it up on the slip,” Mr Burgess said.

“We’re putting in a new stem, which we were due to do in a year anyway, but we decided we might as well do it now.

“It’s the same story with the hull, where we’re replacing more wood than normal.”

In more good news for the Canberra, Mr Burgess said internal assessments had been positive.

“The steam engine is fine, it’s been inspected, and it’s all good to go,” he said.

“We’re hoping to have it back in action by early November, mid-November by the absolute latest.”