Posted at 10:30 a.m., Wednesday, August 29, 2001

Navy could raise Ehima Maru stern today in salvage effort

• USS Greeneville damaged in aborted docking

Associated Press

The Navy said it could be ready by this afternoon to raise the stern of the Ehime Maru high enough to install equipment that will be used to raise the Japanese fishing vessel that was sunk by a U.S. submarine.

Navy and contract engineers on the construction support ship Rockwater 2 reported Tuesday that they have nearly completed rigging the Ehime Maru for the maneuver.

The Navy is trying to lift the vessel 100 feet off the sea floor to bring it closer to shore so divers can search for the bodies of nine missing men and teenage boys.

Engineers using remotely operated equipment must first install two 50-foot-long lifting plates underneath the ship, which lies in 2,000 feet of water.

Plans call for the Rockwater to use its two main lift winches to raise the fishing vessel's stern long enough so that wires can be pulled under the hull in two sections. The wires will be used to pull the lifting plates into place.

The lift and relocation of Ehime Maru are expected to occur in mid-September.

The Ehime Maru sank Feb. 9 after it was struck by the USS Greeneville about nine miles south of Diamond Head.