Status: 30.08.2024 19:44
Ten months after the fatal shipping accident between Heligoland and Langeoog, the salvage of the “Verity” has begun. A huge floating crane has lifted the 600-ton stern of the freighter from the North Sea floor.
The floating crane “Hebo Lift 10”, one of the strongest in Europe, placed the 40-meter-long stern section of the wreck on a transport barge on Friday evening. This was announced by the Federal Waterways and Shipping Administration. The “Verity” had been sawn into two parts before work began so that it could be lifted more easily from the 37-meter-deep seabed. The stern was slowly pulled to the surface over the course of the day using eight lifting chains. In order to reduce the weight of the 600-ton section of the ship, the water was then pumped out of the engine room and superstructure. Divers had therefore placed appropriate pumps in advance and cut holes in the fresh water tanks.
Bow section to be lifted on Tuesday
The second half of the “Verity” is to be salvaged on Tuesday. Preparatory work has already begun. Chains are to be pulled under the 50-meter-long bow section, which will later be hung on the crane slings. The course of the salvage operation still depends on the sea conditions. As soon as both wreckage parts are secured on the transport barge, the stern and bow are to be towed to the Netherlands and disposed of properly there. For the salvage work, the restricted area around the wreck was expanded this week to a radius of one nautical mile.
Shipwreck claimed five lives
The “Verity” collided with the freighter “Polesie” on October 24, 2023 and subsequently sank. The wreck has since been considered a danger to shipping. According to the authorities, five sailors died in the maritime accident. The captain was recovered dead, the four other bodies were not found. There may still be a body in the stern of the wreck. This was pointed out when the salvage tender was put out to tender, which was not a problem for the company commissioned to carry out the salvage, according to the General Directorate of Waterways and Shipping. According to a survivor, three of the missing people are said to have fallen overboard in the collision. The Cuxhaven Central Command for Maritime Accidents was in charge of rescuing and recovering the sailors.
More information
Almost the entire cargo has been recovered. The ship that sank off Heligoland is expected to be raised by the end of August. (July 30, 2024) more
Alex Kolesnikov from the “Verity” has now personally thanked the naval aviation life savers – and donated. (25.11.2023) more
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Hello Lower Saxony | 30.08.2024 | 19:30
