A salvage team has successfully recovered a boat sunk by fire in Milford Sound, without incident. 

The boat sank in Deep Water Basin on Monday September 14 following the on-board fire.

Bad weather and road closures hampered attempts to refloat and remove the boat until last Thursday (October 8). 

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To refloat the boat, divers attached nine 2 tonne lift bags and inflated them, while also pumping out excess water to reduce its weight.

The team was then able to haul it onto the boat ramp on Thursday. 

Environment Southland harbourmaster Lyndon Cleaver said the boat was successfully refloated and removed with no complications. 

“It was a success – the divers ensured everything went to plan and there was no debris or sign of contamination in the water as the boat was removed,” he said. 

“It was a great effort from the salvage team, who had to deal with Milford Sound’s unpredictable weather in the lead-up to the removal.”

The Tonka has been removed from Milford Sound. PHOTO: Supplied Environment Southland

There was evidence of small amounts of contamination on the water at the time of the fire.

The booms put in place to capture that contamination have also been removed from the water.

The boat has been disassembled and removed from Milford Sound for disposal.