Press Releases
Dover Strait U-boat wreck successfully relocated
15/07/2008
The delicate operation to relocate the wreck of a WW1 German submarine has been successfully completed today (15 July 2008) in the Dover Strait, the worldﾒs busiest shipping lane.The UB38 has laid on the seabed for 90 years but in recent years has been identified as a potential risk to shipping, now that increasingly deeper draught vessels are navigating the south-west bound lane of the Dover Strait Traffic Separation Scheme.
The wreck lay at a swept depth of 23.5 metres. The minimum required clearance depth of 26.5 metres, aligning it with the surrounding depth, has been achieved.
Trinity House, the General Lighthouse Authority for England and Wales with responsibility to ensure the safe navigation of this stretch of water, appointed a consortium, comprising J/V Titan Maritime (UK) Ltd, and Scaldis Salvage and Marine Contractors NV, to relocate the wreck to deeper water.
Jeremy de Halpert, Executive Chairman of Trinity House, said, ﾑOver recent years there has been a noticeable increase in the number of deep draught vessels using the south-west bound lane of the Dover Strait. We have a statutory duty to ensure that waterways within our area of responsibility remain safely navigable. To ensure this we consulted with all concerned parties and concluded that the best course of action available to us is the relocation of the wreck.
ﾑIt was essential that the clearance depth in this section of the Dover Strait was increased and this could only be achieved by lifting the wreck from the seabed and repositioning it approximately one nautical mile to the east, an area which is clear of the deep draught vessels route and in a greater depth of water.ﾒ
Mariners were advised throughout the activity by Trinity Houseﾒs Notices to Mariners. Dover Coastguard also made regular broadcasts to vessels in the vicinity.
All navigation warnings have now ceased as the wreck site is clear and a Notice to Mariners has been issued advising of the new location of the wreck and clearance depths.
Despite the unseasonal weather conditions the wreck relocation was successfully undertaken. It was the biggest operation of its kind undertaken by Trinity House in modern times.
Notes To Editors
Trinity HouseTrinity House is the General Lighthouse Authority (GLA) for England and Wales, with responsibility for nearly 600 Aids to Navigation, from traditional aids such as lighthouses, buoys and beacons to the latest satellite navigation technology. In addition it inspects over 10,000 local Aids to Navigation provided by port and harbour authorities, and those positioned on offshore structures.
As a GLA Trinity House has a duty to mark, raise, remove or destroy any wreck in its area of responsibility which in its opinion is a danger to navigation, where there is no harbour or conservancy authority (section 252 and 253 in Part IX of the Merchant Shipping Act 1995).
Incorporated by Royal Charter in 1514, the Corporation is also a major maritime charity, wholly funded by its endowments. The Corporation spends around £3m each year on its charitable activities including welfare of mariners, education and training, the promotion of safety at sea, and its role as a Deep Sea Pilotage Authority.
Titan Salvage
Titan Salvage, a wholly owned subsidiary of Crowley Marine Services, Inc, is a worldwide salvage company with its headquarters in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. The company also has offices and salvage depots in Newhaven, UK and Singapore.
Over the past 27 years, Titan has performed more than 300 salvage and wreck removal projects worldwide.
Titan responds to marine casualties around the world and has a rapid response capability 24 hours a day.
More information about Titan can be found at www.titansalvage.com.
Scaldis Salvage and Marine Contractors NV
Scaldis Salvage and Marine Contractors undertake projects involving marine-based heavy lifts.
Scaldis has performed many specialised and complex marine salvage works as well as marine heavy-lift projects and has developed alternative, inventive and unique solutions to successfully complete challenges in an efficient way.
Aside from marine heavy lifting, Scaldis’ highly experienced staff allows the organisation to perform other related activities in this market including Civil construction works, Oil and gas projects and work concerning renewables and the environment.
More information about Scaldis Salvage and Marine Contractors can be found by visiting www.scaldis-smc.com.
Web Usage Survey
Help us bring you the website you want and need by filling in our short questionnaire.
It'll take 2 minutes
