Time running out for trawler salvage

The recovery vessel Norma returned to St Peter Port

Salvage crews attempting to raise the wreck of a Guernsey trawler from the seabed off Alderney are running out of time.

Bad weather and unfavourable tides mean the Chelaris J, which sank with the loss of four lives in October, needs to be raised by Wednesday or Thursday.

Salvage ship the Norma returned to St Peter Port on Monday after completing some initial stages of the recovery over the weekend, but bad weather stopped any lifting attempt.

She returned to the wreck site on Tuesday to assess whether the trawler can be raised from the seabed.

Anchors dragged

The trawler is currently resting on the seabed on the Schole Bank, near Alderney. All four crew, including Guernseyman skipper Martyn Lane and three French sailors, died when the vessel sank.

Divers from the salvage ship rigged strops on the fishing vessel during the weekend.

But a strong northerly wind forced the Norma to put off an attempt to bring the vessel to the surface on Monday after her anchors started dragging on the seabed.

Guernsey's Harbourmaster, Captain Robert Barton, said the weather conditions meant the Norma did have to leave the scene.

The salvers and Marine Accident Investigator Branch (MAIB) staff have been looking into the weather forecast and remaining tidal window to see whether it will be possible to raise the Chelaris J.

However, Captain Barton said after the Norma started to return to port on Monday: "There is always the possibility that the operation may be called off. There is a limit to what you can do, but we want to give it our best effort.

"The sooner we get her up, if possible, the better.

"She isn't suffering from any particular damage, although she has been settling into the sand a bit more than we would have hoped."

Investigators hope raising the boat will reveal what caused her to sink.

If the vessel is raised, the trawler will be taken to a UK port for examination.

The Chelaris J is not thought to pose a hazard to shipping.