Marine firm lifts sunken Prospect from the bottom

After spending more than two weeks beneath 15 metres of water, the Banff-registered fishing boat Prospect is now back at the surface and lying alongside at the Greenhead Base in Lerwick.

The boat sank on the evening of 5th August after hitting the submerged but well-marked Robbie Ramsay’s Baa at the north end of the harbour.

Since then, several attempts by local firm Ocean Kinetics to raise the vessel have failed, but on Wednesday afternoon the salvage team were finally rewarded with success.

Large flotation bags had been attached to the vessel, as well as anchors to keep her steady. Once at the surface, around lunchtime on Wednesday, the harbour tugs Knab and Kebister were able to tow the Prospect to the Greenhead.

According to Lerwick Port Authority the conditions on Wednesday were “near perfect” with a very high tide. This was necessary “as the vessel was mainly submerged and was drawing over 10 metres of water depth”.

The Prospect was secured at Greenhead with two large cranes, which gently lifted her above the waterline. By mid-afternoon pumps were deployed to remove water from the vessel.

The salvage team were hoping to begin pumping fuel from the boat’s tanks yesterday.