Poole Harbour Commissioners are pleased that the Channel Chieftain IV was successfully salvaged following a complex operation involving a number of different organisations.

The size and weight of the boat initially meant that Poole Harbour Commissioners had to employ two cranes operating in tandem to refloat the vessel.

The vessel then had to be towed by the Herbert Ballam tug to Sunseekers yard where it was lifted out of the water and then placed on a barge operated by Jenkins Marine Ltd.

Poole Harbour Commissioners would like to place on record their thanks to the Borough of Poole for assistance in road closures, Dorset Police for their initial response assistance, Commercial and Industrial Diving Ltd for their assistance in the salvage operation, Marsh Plant for providing the cranes, Sunseeker for their help in lifting the vessel out of the water and Jenkins Marine Ltd for their help in removing and disposal of the vessel.

Additionally I would like to place on record my appreciation of the Poole Harbour Commissioners team which worked round the clock from Monday evening to ensure that pollution was kept to a minimum and that the salvage operation was skilfully and successfully completed.


Jim Stewart, chief executive, Poole Harbour Commisioners