2010-02-08 14:51:19 - A rusting ship featured in Peter Jackson's King Kong movie is set to be sunk off the coast of New Zealand - after the company which owned the vessel went into liquidation.

A rusting ship featured in Peter Jackson's King Kong movie is set to be sunk off the coast of New Zealand - after the company which owned the vessel went into liquidation.
The director used the Venture II in his 2005

remake and later sold it to a property development firm in Wellington, which kept it moored at a wharf in the city.
Ownership of the vessel has now passed to Wellington Regional Council after the company went bust, and local authorities plan to scuttle the ship in the Cook Strait on Tuesday (09Feb10), reports Radio New Zealand.
The plans have proved unpopular with residents after it was revealed the sinking will cost tax payers $23,800 (£14,875), but council officials insist the ship is becoming a safety hazard and can no longer be moored at the wharf.