News / floating harbour

Refloating a sunken ship

By Martin Booth  Tuesday May 23, 2023

A salvage operation has got underway to refloat a ship badly damaged in a recent fire.

During the blaze at Underfall Yard, a burning ship was towed to outside the Cottage pub where it has been resting at the bottom of the docks since then, with only its mast visible above the water.

Work has now started to retrieve the boat from the water, with several large orange inflatable balloons attached to the hull.

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One man in a wetsuit was working in the water on Monday afternoon as the charred boat slowly rose from the depths.

The salvage operation is a joint effort between Harbour Master staff and a team from Pill Hobblers Marine Services.

The boat has been at the bottom of the docks since the fire at Underfall Yard on May 6 – photo: Martin Booth

Main photo & video: Martin Booth

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