Three divers in action on the sunken "Verity"
The diving operation on the sunken "Verity" southwest of Helgoland began on Saturday afternoon. "A diving vessel and a tugboat have now arrived in the wreck area," said a spokeswoman for the Directorate-General for Waterways and Shipping. The diving vessel is being secured there with anchors and three divers are standing by. A tugboat is to secure the work.
According to the authority, the divers are also checking whether there are any dead seamen on board the sunken ship. The shipowner's insurance company is in contact with the public prosecutor's office in Hamburg, according to the Directorate-General for Waterways and Shipping.
The emergency services now want to shorten the two masts of the wreck. According to the authority, the water column above the mast is around 15 meters. "The specific technical implementation will be decided on site," said the spokeswoman for the Directorate-General for Waterways and Shipping. In addition, experts are to investigate whether there are any leaks on the wreck that require action. Two working days were initially planned for the operation.
The Waterways and Shipping Office (WSA) is therefore accompanying the work, and the multi-purpose vessel "Mellum" from the Federal Waterways and Shipping Administration will be on duty. In addition, the Wilhelmshaven traffic control center is monitoring the area with radar and the AIS system, which ships use to exchange navigation and ship data.
The divers are ensuring safe shipping conditions by inspecting the wreck for potential accidents related to the sunken "Verity." In case of any leaks, appropriate measures will be taken to prevent shipping mishaps.
Source: www.dpa.com
