The valuable wooden boat “Bibelot II”, which sank on 2 August during a sailing regatta on the Attersee, could now be lifted from a depth of 130 metres. The operation was difficult and not without danger for two rescue divers.
Within eleven seconds, the “Bibelot II” sank in the Attersee on August 2 during a sailing regatta for vintage boats. Fortunately, the crew was able to escape unharmed. As sonar detection and the camera of an underwater diving robot revealed a few days later, the wooden yacht was lying on the bottom of the lake at a depth of 130 meters.
The owners decided that they absolutely wanted to save the noble vehicle. A plan that also brought with it some difficulties. Such depths pose a great danger, especially for divers. Normal breathing air, as is usually used in compressed air cylinders, cannot be used in such situations because it becomes poisonous. Instead, special gases are used that are precisely tailored to this depth.
Thunderstorms got in the way
Last Wednesday, a first rescue attempt was made. The plan was to moor an underwater robot to the sunken boat. Special divers had to go along the cable of the robot to the “Bibelot II” and attach a salvage line to which the yacht would be pulled up.
However, due to an approaching thunderstorm, the dive had to be cancelled and postponed until Thursday.
On this day it was also possible to position the robot as desired. Two specialists descended to 130 meters and attached the recovery line. Their action was secured by two safety divers who were waiting at a depth of 20 and 60 meters with reserve cylinders.
Decompression breaks
As planned, the recovery line could then be attached to a buoy on the water surface. However, the divers only had a few minutes to do this, as they had to take decompression breaks at various altitudes when they ascended again.
On Saturday, the water rescue team towed a pontoon with a rented special winch to the sinking site. With this, the wooden boat could finally be pulled out of the mud and lifted to a depth of 20 meters. The whole operation took a very long time because there was a great risk that the water pressure would crush the yacht.
Hebe balloon
The pontoon with the sailboat underneath was towed to shallower water. Divers then attached lifting balloons to the wooden hull and lowered the boat back to the bottom of the Attersee at a depth of 20 meters, so that the salvage line could be released and the pontoon could be removed.
The “Bibelot II” was lifted high enough by means of lifting balloons to pump the water out of the hull. It was then towed to the harbour and handed over undamaged to the owner by the water rescue team.
Source: Krone
I am Wallace Jones, an experienced journalist. I specialize in writing for the world section of Today Times Live. With over a decade of experience, I have developed an eye for detail when it comes to reporting on local and global stories. My passion lies in uncovering the truth through my investigative skills and creating thought-provoking content that resonates with readers worldwide.
