TENDERS are being sought to salvage the sail training ship, Asgard II, from the seabed off the northwest coast of France.
The Department of Defence and Coiste an Asgard are working with the vessel's insurers on cost estimates for possible raising of the wooden hull, lying in just over 80 metres of water in the Bay of Biscay.
Minister for Defence Willie O'Dea is expected to make a statement on the matter in the Dáil today, and his department said a final decision on salvage would depend on the outcome of the tender procedure.
Some 25 crew and trainees were rescued by French lifeboats in the early hours of September 11th last, when the brigantine began taking water some 22km west of Belle-Ile, off the northwest coast of France. It had been en route to La Rochelle, France, for a maritime festival and routine maintenance.
The vessel was "largely intact" and upright on the seabed when examined by remotely operated vehicle (ROV) in late September. The ROV also identified a significant fracture in one of the hull's planks.
Marine experts believe the fractured plank could have been caused by an impact such as a collision with a hatch cover washed off a merchant ship. Hatch covers are frequent, dangerous debris in busy shipping lanes, and the French maritime authorities have been participating recently in an EU-funded campaign to retrieve lost covers in the Bay of Biscay.
The investigation into the sinking is being conducted by Irish and French authorities, as the vessel was Irish-registered but sank in French waters. It is understood there are fears that the vessel could prove to be a navigational hazard if not removed before it begins to deteriorate.
The vessel is insured for €3.8 million, according to the department. It is estimated that salvage could be carried out for about €2 million, and could take place within days if approved.
The training programme has been suspended by Coiste an Asgard for the rest of the year. It is examining the hire of a replacement vessel in the short term for next year's sailing season, in consultation with the department.
