Divers raise Normandy landing vessel
UK diving specialist Falmouth Divers Ltd has raised the former Normandy landing vessel Yarmouth Navigator, which sank with the loss of one life at the end of January 2011 in Cattewater, Plymouth UK.
The 1943 built Yarmouth Navigator was one of only a few surviving Normandy landing vessels. It served in the private sector in later years and was listed on the UK historic ships register.
As the vessel was blocking a berth and had the potential to cause further disruption to shipping within the port, it was essential that it was made safe and then removed as soon as possible.
Falmouth Divers Ltd was contracted to raise the vessel by the Cattewater Harbour Commissioners (CHC) in conjunction with BMT/Salvage Association who were representing the port’s insurers, following approval of their salvage plan.
Various salvage methods were considered, including floating cranes and disposal in-situ, but it was felt that a lift bag solution was preferable as it would minimise disruption to other port users.
With the vessel’s weight being listed in various documents as ranging between 115 and 200 tons, and with the vessel sinking further into soft mud every day, the salvors decided to plan for a maximum lift of up to 240 tons.
The divers worked in zero visibility and strong tides and ascertained that due to the condition of the wreck, the lift would have to be by strops under the wreck as opposed to a lift being attached to it.
Isle of White based Seaflex Ltd provided all the lift in the form of twenty four 10 ton parachute bags complete with multiple inflation manifolds and snap-lock hoses.
Divers were then used to burrow under the wreck at both the bow and stern to install lifting strops under the keel at each end of the vessel. A controlled lift of the bow was then carried out to enable further strops to be dragged under the vessel. This was repeated with a controlled lift of the stern until sufficient strops were under the vessel.
After the final lift, the vessel was towed by Cattewater tugs Prince Rock and Pronto, along with Falmouth Divers construction vessel Grey Bear, to Howards Quay in the River Plym where the wreck was beached on the high water.
The salvors then worked through the night to de-rig and pump out the vessel and were able to leave the vessel afloat against the quay the following day. The vessel had been declared a total constructive loss and will probably sadly be broken up.
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