The sunken ferry Sewol sits on a semi-submersible ship during its salvage operations at the sea off Jindo, South Korea, March 26, 2017. Yonhap via REUTERS
Salvage crews in South Korea are getting ready to move the Sewol ferry from the salvage site off Jindo Island to Mokpo, where a search for the nine missing victims is set to resume.
The wreckage of the 6,800-ton ferry now sits aboard the deck of the semi-submersible heavy lift transport vessel Dockwise White Marlin.
“It looks like there will be no significant risk in transporting the ferry to shore from now on, since it is safely placed on the balanced deck of the semisubmersible vessel,” a spokesman for South Korea’s Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries told reporters on Sunday.
The wreck of the 140-meter-long Sewol was raised to the surface last week by a Chinese salvage consortium. Salvors raised the ferry between two barges fitted with winches and lifting beams that were secured beneath the sunken ferry. Once the Sewol was raised the submerged White Marlin was able to maneuver around the wreck before scooping it up in one piece.
Over the weekend salvors were busy securing the Sewol aboard the White Marlin while also letting the wreck drain of seawater and other contaminants.
The South Korean ferry sank April 16, 2014 off the coast Jindo Island during a routine voyage, killing 304 people, most of them students on a school trip. Nine of the victims remain missing.
A search for the missing is expected to commence once the wreck reaches the dock Mokpo.
Join the gCaptain Club for curated content, insider opinions, and vibrant community discussions.
Join the 108,925 members that receive our newsletter.
Have a news tip? Let us know.
Greenland residents vote on Tuesday in a closely watched election brought into the international spotlight by a pledge from U.S. President Donald Trump to take control of the mineral-rich island.
The frequency of cable incidents in the Baltic Sea has been "exceptional" in recent years, but state actors have more effective ways of performing underwater sabotage than by dragging anchors, Finland's intelligence service chief said.
U.S. President Donald Trump is expected to decide on Monday what levels of tariffs he will impose early on Tuesday on Canada and Mexico amid last-minute negotiations over border security and efforts to halt the inflow of fentanyl opioids.
Maritime and offshore news trusted by our 108,925 members delivered daily straight to your inbox.
Essential news coupled with the finest maritime content sourced from across the globe.
Sign Up
Join The Club
