WORK to raise the wreck of the L’Ecume II fishing trawler – which sunk with three men on board following a collision with the Condor Goodwill in December – is due to begin today.
Two bodies were recovered from the wreck and identified as crewmen Jervis Ramirez Baligat and Larry Simyunn from the Philippines, but the third person on board – skipper Michael ‘Mick’ Michieli – has not been found.
A specialist dive team made up of nine divers and a support crew with remotely operating vehicles will be sent to the site to begin searching the wreck.
The dive team will commence a survey of the wreck site, which is required ahead of the lifting operation starting.
A 20-metre tug boat – Multrasalvor 3 – will lay anchors on site today in preparation to deploy the Gaverland recovery barge to site on Monday.
Once raised L’Ecume II will be transported to La Collette, where it will be stored at a secure location, under States police supervision.
A 1,000m maritime exclusion zone will remain in force in the area until the recovery operations are completed. Mariners are being advised to keep well clear of the vessels involved in the operation at all times.
