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Pere Charles salvage operation resumes

Pere Charles - Sank last January
Pere Charles - Sank last January

The Pere Charles will be lifted from the seabed within the next 24 hours following an agreement on the trawler salvage plan.

The Coastguard and salvage company came to an agreement during talks in Dunmore East this morning and the operation resumed this afternoon.

Salvage contractors say they are making slow but steady progress in their attempts to raise the trawler.

The Pere Charles sank off Hook Head in January this year and claimed the lives of all five fishermen on board.

The fishing trawler is currently lying upside down, 35m below the surface, on the seabed off the Wexford coast.

The dispute centred on how best to raise the vessel, with the salvage company wishing to raise the boat in its upside down position. The Coastguard had approved a plan to turn the boat while it was on the seabed before raising it.

Amid fears that any delay could stall the operation, the salvage company complained of unhelpful interference from the Coastguard.

However, it is understood the salvage company will now try to right the boat before attempting to raise it to the surface. If this is not possible, the boat may have to be towed underwater to shallower ground before being righted.

A second fishing vessel was successfully raised from the seabed yesterday and taken to Dunmore East.

The Maggie B sank last year with the loss of two lives. However, a preliminary search of the raised boat by garda divers found no evidence of bodies on board.