Schnackenburg, 26.01.2004

90 cm at the week-end...

at the same speed at which the Elbe’s water level sank, Wladimir Rosik’s freighter was raised at the week-end. Before Mr Rosik’s boat could be lowered 1.5 m into the water, the freighter needed to be raised first. This was achieved with the help of air cushions – 50 cm on the starboard side and 90 cm on the port side. After the raising, the freighter could then be supported by wooden beams. The technical relief workers began their salvage operation at the week-end and have already made good progress.

The operation’s leader, Hans-Hermann Mietz, from the technical relief operation in Salzwedel together with his colleague Hans-Joachim Ragotzky from the THW in Lüchow-Dannenberg began the salvage operation on Saturday after the authorised representatives of the THW Sachsen-Anhalt, Berlin, Brandenburg, Mr Manfred Metzger and Mr Eckhard Leiser from the THW Niedersachsen and Bremen gave their necessary authorisation.

After all necessary permits and insurance policies for the salvage operation were obtained on the German side, the salvage preparations could begin.

On Saturday morning the polish insurance company sent a fax to a Hamburg insurance office claiming that they would cover costs up to 20.000 Euros. The salvage operation with more than 50 voluntary helpers could begin. The many donations and consequently the rise in public interest, might have led the Polish shipping company and the Polish insurance company into making a financial contribution to the project.

With tears in his eyes „Wladi“, as he is now called by the voluntary workers, watched his ship manoeuvre her first few centimetres in over 10 months since the „compulsory“ stop, even if the movement was only vertical for now. Evenly spread over 16 different places on both sides of the 57 m long and 180 ton freighter, the freighter was lifted with the help of air cushions until it could be propped up by wooden beams.

The highly motivated team were able to ensure the ship’s accurate alignment in only two days, although three days had initially been calculated. The low temperatures of - 8° C could not deter the male and female voluntary workers from the different technical relief units. Everything worked perfectly.

Only short breaks were taken in the heated tents where professionally prepared food was served in the field kitchen for the workers. Whether it was Schnitzels, fried potatoes or pea soup which were served from a huge pot, everybody found the food deliciously tasty.

The Schnackenburger mayor, Andreas Koch, had the village hall transformed into a hostel. He had camp beds set-up there so that those voluntary workers who came from further afield could stay overnight in a warm environment.

On Sunday evening the ship was propped up by wood so that it was ready for inspection by the SUK on Monday 26th January. The SUK is a board of enquiry for the shipping industry who will inspect the ship from underneath to see whether it has been damaged or not. The continuation of the salvage operation is dependant on the result of this inspection. If the freighter is not damaged, and is „freed“ by the SUK, then the building of the substructural ‚slipping‘ construction can begin. The freighter will be rolled into the water with the help of 2 special tubes which are over 100 m long.

However, the Elbe’s water-level is not allowed to sink any further, because then the angle at which the ship would enter the water would not be favourable. The continuation of the operation is now dependent on the state of the bottom of the ship and on the water level of the Elbe. Hermann Mietz is not able to make a precise prediction.

Many representatives of the media such as newspapers, radio and television stations followed the operation and hundreds of local onlookers observed the operation from the dike. A group of women from Schnackenburg provided punch, coffee and cake for the onlookers. All proceeds will go to supporting Captain Rosik who has finally started to smile a little more frequently now.

The setting-up of the fundraising campaign with the website www.schiffsrettung.com really got the ball rolling. By Friday evening more than 10.000 Euros had been donated. The current amount raised can be seen at the top of the page. Wolly Wessel, the initiator of the fundraising campaign travelled to the far North from Duren, Rheinland, taking a barrel of local beer (Kölsch) with him so that on Sunday evening he could celebrate the first successful step with the voluntary team.

Not all costs for the salvage operation and the safety inspection have been covered yet. Wladimir Rosik still needs your support. He would like to express a huge thank you to everyone who has contributed to and supported the project so far. Without this support, the current state of events would not have been possible. Thank you all very much.

Wolly Wessel