How They Removed 1,400 Cars And A Sunk Ship From The Bottom Of The Sea

Salvaged Ship Loaded With 1,400 Cars Resurfaces from Ocean’s Depths

When a shipwreck happens, the situation doesn’t just end when the ship sinks to the ocean floor. The real challenge begins when you have to figure out how to retrieve the sunken cargo. This was exactly the case with a massive shipwreck in December 2012, when two ships collided in a busy shipping channel, sending a cargo vessel carrying over 1,400 cars to the ocean’s depths. The aftermath of this disaster led to an incredibly complex and costly salvage operation.

The Catastrophic Collision

A devastating collision between two ships resulted in a cargo vessel sinking to the bottom of a heavily trafficked shipping channel. The ship, laden with over 1,400 cars, posed a serious threat to other vessels navigating the area. Not only did the wreckage block the shipping lane, but it also presented a significant environmental hazard. The potential for harmful fluids leaking from the sunken ship into the surrounding waters was a major concern.

The Mission to Retrieve the Sunken Cargo

The situation called for immediate action, and a specialized salvage team was assembled to undertake the enormous task of retrieving the wreckage. However, lifting the entire ship from the ocean floor wasn’t an option due to its sheer size and the potential risk of releasing toxic substances into the environment.

To tackle this challenge, the team first focused on extracting as many harmful fluids as possible from the wreckage. Once that was done, the next step was to recover the steel and the cars still trapped inside the ship. The process involved slicing the ship into manageable sections, much like cutting a birthday cake. Each section was then painstakingly pulled to the surface, one at a time.

The High Cost of Salvage

Salvaging the sunken ship and its cargo was no small feat. The entire operation came with a staggering price tag of $73 million. It’s hard to fathom spending such an enormous sum on a single mission, but the costs were necessary to prevent further environmental damage and clear the shipping channel for other vessels.

In the end, the salvage operation left behind a cleaner environment and some large chunks of metal that were once part of a massive cargo ship. Although the cars recovered from the wreckage were no longer usable, the operation was considered a success because it prevented a potential environmental disaster.

This remarkable salvage mission showcases the incredible lengths taken to protect the environment and maintain safe passage for other vessels. The successful recovery of the sunken ship and its cargo is a testament to the skill and determination of the salvage team, who turned a potentially disastrous situation into a story of triumph. Photo Credit Via – popularmechanics