Constance Lake - Attempt to salvage Steamboat from Lake Constance unsuccessful.
A club had been trying to salvage a 130-year-old steamship from the depths of Lake Constance since April. However, after two attempts, it seems like the mission to save the "Saentis" has failed for the team. The news was shared with disappointment and sorrow by the responsible individuals on Monday in Romanshorn, Switzerland. Thousands of hours of work and a significant portion of their budget had gone into the two rescue attempts, as per the club president, Silvan Paganini. He stated that the project had come to a halt after the failed attempt on Sunday. "I'm just not able to keep up with this effort anymore," he added, mentioning the toll it had taken on his family life as well.
The Steamer
The 48-meter-long "Saentis" is resting at a depth of around 210 meters in the middle of Lake Constance, between Langenargen on the German side and Romanshorn in the canton of Thurgau. It was sunk in 1933 and was considered too expensive to destroy at the time. The steamer had been in operation on the lake since 1892, capable of carrying 400 passengers. It was once a symbol of opulence and technological advancement on the lake.
The Ship Salvage Club
The club, founded in 2023 and comprising over 40 members, had acquired the wreck for a miniscule amount from the Swiss Lake Constance Shipping Company (SBS). Their goal was to raise the vessel after salvaging, with plans of showcasing it.
The Ship
Paganini, who is also a technical operations manager for Nautik/Shipyard at the SBS, mentioned why "Saentis" was a suitable choice for the operation - it was made of steel, which can be readily conserved. "Wood doesn't grant the same advantages," he added.
The Fundraising
The club had successfully raised around 250,000 euros in donations for the rescue project. Companies also supported the mission with materials. The authorities gave their approval for both attempts. Romanshorn was looking forward to receiving a tourist boost from the salvage. Unfortunately, despite the club's efforts and help from many others, the mission was not successful.
The First Attempt
The initial salvage attempt in mid-April also ended in failure. The team couldn't manage to pull enough lifting cables to the ship, leaving them unable to attach the needed lifting bags. The planned spectator ship trips for around 1000 passengers to witness the salvage had to be canceled.
The Second Attempt
For the second attempt, the club managed to gather more needed anchors, but an essential steel platform for the salvage of the "Saentis" lost control and sunk due to alleged malfunctioning brakes of the winch. The salvage platform needs to be recovered now, according to Paganini.
The Diving Robot
A diving robot was sent deeper into the lake, incurring more than 150,000 euros in damage to the vehicle. They plan to mitigate the financial loss, while the cleanup work requires immense labor.
Possible Salvage
Paganini believes there's still a chance to salvage the "Saentis." However, he emphasizes they want to continue provided risks and costs are within the limits of the conservation of this 'magnificent ship'.
Technical Solutions
Better technical solutions were available, but this was a low-budget project, Paganini mentioned, choosing to stick with the cheapest option to achieve their goal. "In hindsight, I should have dedicated more time to fundraising to gather more funds for a more efficient salvage method," he admitted.
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Source: www.stern.de
