Rescue operations for the sunken steamboat in Lake Constance come to a halt.
Down at 210 meters in Lake Constance, an old steamship named "Säntis" has been resting since 1931. Due to its inability to sail, it was sunk in the middle of the lake between Germany and Switzerland in 1933. To salvage it would've been too costly. Now, two attempts to retrieve the vessel have been unsuccessful - it remains in place.
The rescue of the historical steamship "Säntis" from the depths of Lake Constance is on hold for the moment. This information was shared by the Shipwreck Association in Romanshorn, Switzerland. After facing numerous technical glitches, the organizers made the tough decision to call off the operation. "Perhaps in the future, we'll try to salvage the wreck again, uncovering its secrets once more."
On a Sunday, the second effort to bring the ship up from 210 meters to the surface ended unsuccessfully. The issue arose when the brakes of the winch, intended to lower the salvage platform onto the sinkhole on the lake bed, couldn't hold. Now it's about taking out the salvage materials from the lake, stated the organizers.
"That's the end of the project," said Association President Silvan Paganini during a live stream on Swiss television "Blick TV." This news left everyone involved involved feeling crestfallen and disheartened, as per the Association. However, it had always been emphasized that they would persist in their efforts as long as the risks and expenses were reasonable in comparison to the preservation of this "remarkable vessel."
The steamship had been deemed unfit for use in May 1933, subsequently sunk in the center of the lake between Romanshorn in Switzerland and Langenargen in Germany. At the time, scraping the ship was seen as too costly. The 48-meter-long ship had been in operation on Lake Constance since 1892 and could accommodate up to 400 passengers.
An earlier attempt to retrieve the sunken passenger vessel fell short in mid-April due to technical malfunctions. Consequently, trips made by spectator ships meant to observe the operation were also canceled. About 1,000 spectators were scheduled to be onboard seven ships.
During the first attempt, the towing lines were drawn beneath the ship, and a cable snapped while winching a salvage line. Additionally, technical components needed to be replaced on the diving robot. The lines were then planned to be cleared by the diving robot in water depths of 210 meters before the salvage could resume.
The Shipwreck Association was founded in 2023. For the salvage of the steamship, over 250,000 euros were gathered. Since the successful crowdfunding for the salvage of the steamboat, preparations have been underway at a brisk pace. The organization is non-profit and has over 40 members.
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The international interest in the salvage operation of the historical steamboat "Säntis" in Lake Constance has been significant, with many hoping to witness its recovery. Despite the unsuccessful rescue efforts so far, the Shipwreck Association in Switzerland expressed their intent to revisit the project in the future, potentially shedding more light on the old ship.
Germany and Switzerland have shared a unique history with Lake Constance, as evidenced by the sunken steamboat "Säntis" located between the two countries. This international symbol of maritime heritage has sparked ongoing efforts to retrieve and preserve the vessel, attracting support and interest from both nations.
Source: www.ntv.de
