Ehime Maru Move To Start Wednesday
Admiral 90 Percent Sure Operation Will Succeed
POSTED: 7:11 p.m. HST October 9, 2001
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HONOLULU -- The top official overseeing efforts to recover a sunken Japanese fishing vessel said Tuesday that he's 90 percent sure that the operation will succeed.
Adm. William Klemm said that the Navy will attempt to move the Ehime Maru from its current resting place 2,000 feet below the surface of the Pacific Ocean to shallower waters starting late Wednesday.
The Ehime Maru will be towed underwater so slowly that it may appear to be standing still during its 14.5 mile journey to a shallow water area near the Honolulu International Airport (see below). That's where Navy divers will attempt to recover the bodies of nine men and teenage boys who were killed when the Ehime Maru was rammed by the submarine USS Greeneville Feb. 9.
Klemm said that moving the vessel will take three to four days. He also said that the operation should not be affected by the bombing campaign in Afghanistan.
"The Navy personnel involved in this right now are Navy divers who have not been tasked for other missions, and so we do not expect to stop this mission at this point in time," Klemm said.
Klemm said that moving the vessel will take three to four days. He also said that the operation should not be affected by the bombing campaign in Afghanistan.
"The Navy personnel involved in this right now are Navy divers who have not been tasked for other missions, and so we do not expect to stop this mission at this point in time," Klemm said.
Previous Stories:
- October 6, 2001: First Ehime Maru Lifting Operation Successful
- September 27, 2001: Ehime Maru Salvagers Trying New Plan
- September 9, 2001: Japan Official Observes Recovery Efforts
- September 8, 2001: Navy Calls For Help Raising Ehime Maru
- September 2, 2001: New Setback In Ehime Maru Recovery
- August 31, 2001: Ehime Maru Raising Hits Snag
- August 30, 2001: Navy Trying To Lift Ehime Maru
- August 23, 2001: Ehime Maru Recovery Hits Snag
- August 21, 2001: Japanese Sub Joins Ehime Maru Salvage
- August 16, 2001: Divers Practice Ehime Maru Recovery
- August 8, 2001: Salvage Ship Arrives At Wreckage Site
- July 21, 2001: Teams Blast Ehime Maru's Mast
- July 14, 2001: Ehime Maru Recovery Ship Arrives In Honolulu
- July 2, 2001: Japanese Ship Helps Navy Salvage Operation
- June 16, 2001: Report: Ehime Maru Can Be Safely Raised
Copyright 2002 by TheHawaiiChannel.com. The Associated Press contributed to this report. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
