Two months after the ship collision in the North Sea near Heligoland, the fate of the sunken freighter "Verity" remains uncertain. Initially, Faversham Ships, the ship's owner based in Southampton, announced plans to salvage the vessel. However, an about-face occurred, with the company informing the Directorate-General for Waterways and Shipping in Bonn that they no longer wished to proceed with the salvage operation.
The Federal Waterways and Shipping Administration (WSV) set a deadline for salvage operations by the end of the year. Faversham Ships has yet to respond to inquiries from the German Press Agency. International law allows the owner to limit their liability to a specific maximum amount, with any additional salvage costs covered by the federal government.
Following the ship's inspection, the WSV suggested initiating a tendering process for salvage operations as soon as possible. There's no immediate threat of a fuel leak, and there are currently no plans to salvage the fuel. The wreck lies at a depth of approximately 30 meters.
On October 24, a collision between the "Verity" and the "Polesie" freighter resulted in the loss of five sailors' lives. The captain was recovered deceased, and four sailors remain missing, with two being rescued. The 91-meter-long "Verity," flying the British flag, was transporting steel coils and was en route from Bremen to Immingham.
Despite the deadline set by the WSV, Faversham Ships has yet to make a decision on salvaging the "Verity." The owner's limited liability under international law will significantly reduce the costs they are responsible for, yet these expenses are expected to exceed their maximum liability. The complexities of the salvage operation, along with ongoing investigation into the accident, add further challenges to the decision-making process.
