Trawler wreck to be raised

Four fishermen died when the Chelaris-J went down off Alderney

A salvage operation is to be carried out to raise the wreck of a trawler which sank off Alderney with the loss of four lives in October.

The decision has been made to enable the Marine Accident Investigation Board (MAIB) to continue its investigation into what caused the Guernsey-registered Chelaris-J to sink.

Guernseyman Martyn Lane and his three French crew died when the 55-foot trawler sank on the Schole Bank south of Alderney.

The operation is expected to begin later this week, as long as tides and weather conditions are good.

The next stage now is to raise the vessel and complete the investigation Captain Robert Barton, Harbourmaster

A number of dives have since been carried out on the wreck site, as experts try to piece together why the vessel went down.

Once the vessel has been raised, it will be transported by barge to a UK boatyard.

The decision was made jointly by the Board of Administration, the MAIB and Trinity House, who all agreed that to leave the vessel on the seabed would be hazardous to future trawling operations in the area.

"The MAIB have been tasked with the investigation on our behalf," said Harbourmaster Captain Robert Barton.

"Part of that process is that, where possible, you would raise the wreck so you can complete the investigation fully."

"The process so far has been to examine the wreck site and the wreck in situ before it is disturbed because that is very important.

"We've got that information and the next stage now is to raise the vessel and complete the investigation."