Divers, cranes and …
A 3,600-ton floating crane is prepared for operations to raise the sunken ferry Sewol off the southwestern coast, Friday, while divers search for possible survivors who might still be trapped inside the ship. Four cranes arrived near the accident site to salvage the vessel. / Yonhap
By Yoon Sung-won, Shim Hyun-chul
JINDO ― On a small but swift fishing boat, it was a not a long ride to get to the site of the capsized ferry Sewol, 25 kilometers off the coast. The boat arrived on the scene after 40 minutes of cutting through the thick fog that shrouded the sea. Though the waves were not rough, the current in the area was strong enough to push the boat in all directions.
It was 7:10 a.m. and more than a dozen small, orange-and-black boats belonging to the Coast Guard were patrolling around the bow of almost submerged ferry.
The bow ― which was completely submerged at 1 p.m. ― was the only sign of the boat in which more than 200 missing passengers are thought to be trapped.
Also in the area were a water surface cleaner boat, a weather forecasting boat and several warships. Salvage workers and divers were busy preparing for more active operations Friday thanks to milder weather conditions. They urgently shouted short orders such as, “here” and “hurry” as they moved about and checked equipment.
Rescue workers link two air-lift buoyancy bags to the sunken ferry Sewol ferry off the country's southwestern coast, Friday. The hull of the ferry completely submerged around noon. / Yonhap
The visibility was bad both above and below the surface. One of four cranes arriving for salvage operations could be seen in the distance. Three additional cranes were scheduled to work together with the first to pull the ferry out of the water. Hopefully, the four cranes will be able to do the job.
As soon as the communications channel was opened between divers and the warships, two divers jumped into the deep, murky sea water as a team. Other divers in their wetsuits were waiting their turn to dive in and search for survivors.
Considering so many divers were prepared and waiting their turn, two divers at a time seemed insufficient.
Divers succeeded in entering the ship at 4 p.m., meaning word of possible survivors could only be a matter of time.
The entire hull of the capsized Sewol ferry disappeared underwater off the southwestern coast around noon Friday. Part of the ship’s bow had previously been visible. / Yonhap