The last part of a cargo ship that sank in the North Sea off the German coast in 2023 was recovered on Wednesday.
A spokeswoman for Germany’s Directorate General for Waterways and Shipping (WSV) confirmed that the last major part of the Verity wreck – the nearly 50-metre-long bow section – has been recovered in the German Bight region.
“Today, an excellent salvage operation was successfully and safely completed,” WSV CEO Eric Oehlmann said in a statement, thanking the workers involved for their professionalism under difficult circumstances.
The 91-metre Verity, registered in Britain, sank after colliding with the cargo ship Polesie on October 24, 2023.
Two of the seven crew members were rescued after the incident. Two sailors, including the captain, died. Three others have not yet been found.
The Polesie, with 22 people on board, remained afloat after the accident. The accident occurred approximately 22 kilometers southwest of the island of Helgoland and 31 kilometers northeast of the island of Langeoog.
Authorities were forced to salvage the wreck, which posed a danger to shipping in the region. The wreck lay in water nearly 40 metres deep.
According to the WSV, one of the most powerful floating cranes in Europe, capable of lifting up to 2,200 tonnes, was used to salvage the two-part wreck.
The rear section of the Verity was raised last week, but the recovery of the forward section was delayed on Tuesday after chains attached to the vessel broke.
The two parts of the wreck are towed to the Netherlands for clearance.
