Refloating operations begin for the sunken yacht in the Port of Ibiza

The vessel has been moved to the Botafoc breakwater and will be lifted out tomorrow to be placed on dry land.

The Balearic Port Authority (APB) has brought forward the planned schedule by one day and today began the refloating operations for the yacht sunk at the entrance to the Port of Ibiza. This operation has made it possible to move the vessel, which is currently lying around ten metres below sea level, to the base of the Botafoc breakwater.

The operation, coordinated by the APB, is now entering a decisive phase. Tomorrow, the yacht is scheduled to be lifted, that is, raised out of the water and placed on dry land. This step will then make it possible to begin waste treatment and lightening work.

APB president Javier Sanz and director Toni Ginard travelled today to Botafoc quay to follow the progress of the operation on site, together with the maritime captain of Ibiza, Luis Gascón.

During the day, one vessel towed the wreck to the quay, while another followed the route with an absorbent boom to collect any possible liquid and solid remains.

Once in port, new perimeter containment booms were deployed, creating a double absorbent and floating barrier system to ensure maximum protection of the marine environment during the next phases of the operation.

Alongside the refloating manoeuvres, specialist teams continue carrying out clean-up work on the vessel. Since Monday, divers have removed a total of 900 litres of polluting liquids from inside the yacht.

In addition, 900 kg of solid waste had already been removed on previous days. To this figure must be added the work carried out today, when three additional sacks of 250 kg each were extracted. In total, 1,650 kg of solid debris have now been recovered, significantly reducing the risk of pollution.

All recovered waste will be transferred to an authorised treatment plant for proper disposal.

Once the lifting operation and the yacht’s transfer to dry land have been completed, a technical investigation and survey phase will begin and is expected to last one week, with the aim of clarifying the causes of the incident.

The APB continues to keep the entire control and monitoring operation active, with the aim of ensuring a safe, effective and environmentally responsible response in a highly complex technical operation that is continuing to progress as planned.