After extensive preparatory work, the wreck of the “Verity” was cut through with cutting chains.
The wreck was first lifted at the bow in order to position lifting chains and a cutting chain under the wreck. A barge was anchored over the wreck so that its bow was fixed exactly over the bow of the wreck. Two chains, each with a breaking force of 600 tons, were placed under the wreck for lifting.
These chains were then pulled with four so-called chain pullers at the bow of the barge (one at each end of the two chains). They each had a pulling force of 250 tons, for a total of 1,000 tons. In this way, the bow of the wreck was lifted about 4 m from the seabed.
Wreck of the “Verity” is cut in two
According to the German authority GDWS, the wreck was cut in half by lateral sawing movements. Cutting up the wreck took nine hours.
The next step is to lift the two halves of the wreck out of the water using a floating crane and load them onto another barge. As soon as the weather conditions are stable, a floating crane will be brought into the wreck area.
Once the sections of the barge have been secured, it will be towed to the Netherlands, where the wreckage will then be disposed of professionally.
The wreck lies southwest of Heligoland in a water depth of approx. 37 m and poses a danger to shipping. The area around the wreck has been designated a restricted area.
