A SUNKEN fishing vessel has been removed from Weymouth Harbour - more than 18 months after it was abandoned in the water by its owner.
The boat, called FV Gitte, had been moored up in the harbour behind Weymouth Pavilion since being ditched in March 2020, before then sinking at the same spot in early October.
Numerous attempts were made to find a new owner to take on the vessel before Dorset Council decided in January to ‘plan for the removal and wrecking of the vessel due to the unknown condition of the hull’ - with the cost of the removal now ‘subject to an insurance claim’.
Read more: Huge crane set up at Weymouth Harbour to lift sunken vessel
A spokesperson for Dorset Council said: “We have collaborated with the regulatory agencies to obtain the relevant environment permit and now working with multiple contractors to ensure a safe and efficient recovery operation.”
Since being left harbour staff had been pumping water from the vessel on a weekly basis to stop it sinking, before in March this year permanent pumps were fitted and monitored daily.
Unfortunately, despite best efforts from the harbour staff, this was not enough to stop the vessel sinking on October 2.
Following the sinking various equipment was ‘put in place to avoid continuation of the water,’ this included a 25m absorbent filled boom (which float on water and absorb oil based liquids while repelling water), seven anchors, smaller booms and seven absorbent nettings bags.
Read more: Sunken vessel lifted out of Weymouth Harbour
Following more than a month of being submerged in Weymouth Harbour the vessel was lifted from the water by a heavy-duty crane shortly before 2pm yesterday.
The huge crane had attracted attention since arriving at the harbour earlier this week.
After rising from the depths of the harbour the vessel was lifted into the air and onto some stands behind the pavilion.
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The lift drew the attention of residents as small crowds gathered near the pavilion and across the water to watch the action unfold.
Previously, Dorset Council had listed the FV Gitte on their Weymouth Harbour website in December 2020 for sale.
The website stated that the vessel was built in 1982 and is a former Danish built trawler that is 17.7m in length.
The cost of recovery is now subject to an insurance claim, Dorset Council confirmed.
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