South Korea selects China consortium for Sewol ferry salvageb

SEOUL
A Chinese -led consortium was selected
Wednesday as the preferred bidder to take
on the massive task of raising the  South
Korean passenger ferry that sank last year
with the lose of more than 300 lives ,most
of them school children,

"The 6,825 tonne Sewol ferry sank off the
southwest coast in April 2014  A total of
295 bodies were recovered ,but nine remained
unaccounted for when divers finally called
off the dangerous search of the sunken vessel
last November,

The Sewol lies 40 metres down on the sea
bed and bringing it to the surface represent
a substantial technical challenge ii September
and take as long as one and a half years, The
ministry of Oceans and Fisheries said it would
begin negotiations next Monday with the consortium
involving China's state -run Shanghai Salvage
Co.and South Korean firm ,which beat six
other competitors including European and US
firms,Shanghai received  good marks for in
its experience in  salvaging sunken vessels,
including a cruise ship that sank in China 's
Yangze River with the loss of more than
400 lives last month it said,

The ministry said it would talk with the second
candidate -a consortium led by China's state
run China Yantsi Salvage -if negotiations with
Shanghai fail

The Shanghai offered to lift the ferry for 85-1
billion won $74 million) by using a frame built
with metal beams on the sea  floor instead  of
drilling holes  into it's side

"We regarded Shanghai Salvage's  idea as safe
-because  the Sewol's hull remains fragile "
Yeon Yeong -Jin a ministry official in charge
of salvage told reporters.

The overloaded  Sewol was carrying 476 people
including 325 students from the high school
in Ansan when it sank ,Only 75 students
survived,
AFP