Navy completes search for missing divers

The search operation for two divers who went missing while diving on the wreck of the oil tanker “Franken” has ended. Unfortunately, also the crew of the ORP “Lech” rescue ship failed to find any traces of the two men who went underwater on Sunday 28 June 2015.

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The search conducted by ORP “Lech” covered the area within 500 m from the wreck. Unfortunately, during the search no trace of the wreck was found, which could advance the search. During the search works an extremely sensitive and precise MS1000 sonar was used, which was made available by the Hydrographic Security Squadron and Falcon vehicles, which checked potential finds.

“The prosecution asked the navy to search the bottom within a radius of 50 metres from the wreck. However, the crew of “Lech”, taking advantage of good weather, examined an area much larger, with a radius of 400-500 meters.” – reports Cdr Lt. Wojciech Prys, Commander of ORP “Lech”

In addition to many items from the time of the bombardment, as a result of which “Franken” sank, 4 diving cylinders were found, among others. Unfortunately, none of them belonged to the wanted divers, and their condition indicated that they had been lying on the bottom for many years.

It was another attempt to find the two technical divers that ended in failure. First, just after being reported missing, a search operation was carried out by the SAR unit supported by the WOPR and the “Anakonda” helicopter from the MW Aviation Brigade.

On the same day, the first dive on the wreck was made by Paweł Poręba, who in the next few days together with Krzysztof Starnawski searched the wreck. Unfortunately, all these activities did not bring any results.

The final stage of the whole action was a two-day search conducted by the crew of ORP “Lech” from the 3rd Flotilla. The decision on further steps will be taken by the prosecutor’s office conducting the investigation.

“We are waiting for the search report. We must analyse it thoroughly and then we will decide what to do next”. – announces Sławomir Dzięcielski from the District Prosecutor’s Office in Puck.

Source: polska-zbrojna.pl