Wreck Search and Salvage

When a vessel sinks, or an anchor is lost, its exact position on the seabed is rarely known. The wreck or object must therefore be located before any intervention can be carried out. The search is generally conducted from the last known position using side-scan sonar. Once the wreck has been located, diving and recovery operations can begin.

Principle

A search grid is run over an area sized according to the object's approximate position, using marine geophysical instruments such as side-scan sonar, an echo sounder and, where appropriate, a magnetometer, in order to locate the object precisely.

Equipment

The CERES team uses side-scan sonar to locate the wreck and provide georeferenced imagery. The lifting system depends on the size and weight of the object and may comprise subsea lifting bags of various capacities or a barge.

Expertise

CERES also intervenes in the context of expert assessments, most often mandated by insurance companies.

In this case, the wrecks are located and then explored by diving. Videos of key elements are recorded and then edited.

A full report is provided at the end of the assessment.

Lifting with a barge

When a wreck is destined for destruction, it is raised using a barge. All the recovered elements are then transported directly to a storage or dismantling site.

The area is then surveyed using a camera to verify the accuracy of the survey. These videos are available with the survey report.

This lifting method can also be used for anchors.

Lifting with balloons

When the wreck is not destined for destruction, it is raised using balloons which are put in place and then inflated by divers, and then towed to the nearest port.

The wreck is then taken into care by the port teams.

This lifting method can also be used for any type of object.