L'Ecume II: specialist teams leave Jersey as recovery operation comes to an end

Picture: DAVID FERGUSON. (35745106)

THE specialist teams and vessels involved in the recovery of L’Ecume II have left the Island as the operation comes to an end.

Harbourmaster Bill Sadler has been notified by the States police that there are no further tasks for the teams to complete at the wreck site, after parts of the vessel – and the body of skipper Michael Michieli – were recovered as part of the operation’s key objectives.

The maritime exclusion zone has now been removed along with the anchors and buoys deployed last month.

The L’Ecume II fishing trawler sank on Thursday 8 December following a collision with Condor’s Commodore Goodwill freight ship off Jersey’s west coast, resulting in the loss of three lives: Mr Michieli, whose body was recovered from the seabed on 26 April, and Filipino crewmen Jervis Baligat and Larry Simyunn, whose bodies were found on 15 December.

Specialist teams and recovery vessels – including a 60-metre crane barge – which arrived last month have now left the Island.

The parts of the trawler recovered from the seabed have been moved to a secure location and the wreck is now in the possession of the States police.

Deputy Kirsten Morel Picture: ROB CURRIE. (35746775)

Deputy Chief Minister Kirsten Morel said: ‘The recovery operation was mobilised for humanitarian and evidential purposes, with the main objective to locate and recover Mr Michieli.

‘Following yesterday’s formal identification of Mr Michieli, I would like to express my deepest condolences to the Michieli family at this very difficult time. My thoughts remain with the Michieli family, the many friends of Mr Michieli, and our close-knit fishing community.’

He added: ‘The teams involved in the operation have worked in the face of significant weather and operational challenges, yet they successfully completed what they set out to achieve.

‘As the operation comes to an end, I would like to thank them for their hard work and resilience during what has been a complex and sensitive operation to complete.’

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