L'Ecume II sinking: Work to raise fishing boat to begin shortly

The L'Ecume II will be lifted from the seabed

Divers are to begin a major operation to raise the wreck of a fishing trawler that sank off the coast of Jersey.

Three crew were on board L'Ecume II when it sank after it collided with a freight ferry on 8 December.

The bodies of Larry Simyunn and Jervis Baligat have been recovered but the body of skipper Michael Michieli is still missing.

Government officials said the recovery operation was expected to cost between £2m and £2.5m.

Three recovery boats have already arrived in Jersey, while a dive team is expected to arrive from the UK later in the week.

The government said the team will initially carry out a dive survey "over the next few days".

Depending on the results of the survey and weather conditions, officials have planned to raise the boat between 19-20 April.

Officials said the overall cost of the salvage operation could increase depending on delays.

The scale of the recovery work - with a dive depth of about 130ft (40m) - is said to be unprecedented for the island.

Three fishermen were on board the vessel which sunk off the coast of Jersey on 8 December

The preliminary work will involve an exploration of the wreck and collection of debris from the surrounding area.

The divers will be supported by the Willchallenge - a 69ft (21m) vessel that will act as a floating base.

After the dive survey is complete, crews need a fair weather window of five days to proceed with the salvage operation, officials said.

The Gaverland, a 196ft (60m) recovery barge, and the Multrasalvor 3, a 65ft (20m) tugboat, have also arrived in Jersey waters ahead of the planned lift.

Once lifted, authorities said the wreck of the L'Ecume II will be taken to La Collette, where it will be stored under police guard.

Several road closures are planned for the transportation phase, the government added.

'Close-knit community'

Kirsten Morel, Deputy Chief Minister, said the salvage operation would be "complex and sensitive".

"Raising the L'Ecume II will assist with the ongoing police investigation by providing access to potentially the best available evidence, but there is also an important humanitarian aspect to raising the wreck, which I hope will bring the bereaved families closer to the answers they have been seeking," he said.

"Jersey is a close-knit community where the emotional impact of the operation will be felt by many islanders."

The Michieli family asked for privacy and urged people not to take photos or record footage of the wreck being brought ashore.

Exclusion zone

Deputy Morel said he had also authorised the maritime exclusion zone around the wreck site to be increased from 250m to 1,000 metres in all directions.

The extended exclusion zone prohibits vessels from entering the wreck area other than those involved with the salvage operation.

It will come into force when the harbour master is satisfied weather conditions allow the lift to proceed.

Breaches of the exclusion zone could result in a £10,000 fine, officials said.

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