The transportation ministry has decided to retrieve the wreckage of a research vessel that sank off the coast of Taiwan’s outlying Penghu Islands in October.
The ministry said on Wednesday that the wreckage of RV Ocean Researcher 5 might drift away with the current, posing a threat to other ships in the sea. There are also fears the wreck could be a source of pollution. A salvage team from overseas will help with the retrieval process because Taiwan doesn’t have the technical capabilities to conduct the salvage mission itself.
The RV Ocean Researcher 5 sank on October 10, leaving two dead and 25 injured. The accident occurred as the two-year-old ship was sailing north to conduct environmental research. The NT$1.46 billion (US$47.98 million), 2,700-ton RV Ocean Researcher 5 was the largest research ship owned by Taiwan. It was known for its state-of-the-art equipment and ability to operate in inclement weather.