Ship stranded on the west beach of Norderney
The first options for salvaging the ship "Wibo", which has been stranded on the west beach of Norderney since Monday and has been causing a media sensation ever since due to its unconventional appearance, have been identified.
The owner of the ship visited Mayor Frank Ulrichs in the town hall today and asked for help. Ulrichs, who took the opportunity to obtain comprehensive information about the course of the accident and the history of the ship, has been monitoring the situation very closely from the outset together with his specialist department as part of the emergency response and immediately offered his support, as he had done before.
"The ship must be taken off the beach at short notice so that the risk of further drifting or damage to the coastal protection facilities is averted," says Ulrichs.
There is a vague option of pulling the ship from the beach into the sea with the help of a suitable tugboat. However, all conditions must be favorable for this. Water level, wind, waves, time (during the day) and pulling power of the available tug or a ship used as such. If necessary, a channel would have to be dredged in advance, which fills up as the water rises and gives the ship buoyancy. This possibility is to be investigated over the next day or two. If this works, however, the steering gear and the engine would still have to be repaired so that the ship can then head for its home port as quickly as possible.
If salvage by water is not an option, salvage by land would also be possible. Mayor Ulrichs met with a local company on site to discuss this option. "In principle, it should be possible, but it's not an easy task on the beach," says Ulrichs. However, the ship would then be on land and would have to be repaired there as quickly as possible in order to be able to start its journey back to its home port. This second option is planned for this Friday for the time being.
The last option would be to dismantle and dispose of the vessel, which the owner does not rule out in principle, but which should only be considered if it is not possible to refurbish the vessel and return it to the water.
Update 10.11.2023 - Salvage successful
This Friday afternoon, the wrecked ship "Wibo" was successfully salvaged from the beach by the Norderney haulage company Onnen. The ship was lifted with two excavators, placed on the loading area of a trailer and transported away.
The ship is now being temporarily stored and repaired at the haulage company's premises. It is not yet clear whether the "Wibo" will leave the island of Norderney again by water or by means of transportation. Potential buyers would be available.
"I would like to thank the local population for their great support, the quick and uncomplicated work of the Onnen company and everyone involved who looked after 'our' castaway and wish him and his ship all the best," said Mayor Frank Ulrichs