The U.S. Navy plans to lift the Japanese fisheries training vessel that it sunk off Hawaii in February from the ocean floor to a shallow shoal off Honolulu International Airport by late Wednesday or early Thursday.
A navy officer said Tuesday that the move will allow the commencement of the search for the remains of those missing from the accident, in which the Ehime Maru was struck and sunk by the U.S. nuclear-powered submarine Greeneville on Feb. 9.
Rear Adm. William Klemm also said the civilian salvage ship Rockwater 2 has already loaded the necessary equipment to lift the ship's hull and that it was headed back to the deep-water site.
Once the Rockwater 2 reaches the site, the top and bottom portions of the rigging frame will be connected so that the vessel can be lifted and transported about 26 km to shallower waters.