South Korea has approved plans to salvage a sunken ferry that capsized last year in the Yellow Sea killing over 300 people, Public Safety and Security Minister Park In-yong said.
Last April's disaster happened off the southern coast of Jindo, South Jeolla Province. Nine people are still missing. The ferry was carrying 476 passengers at the time of sinking.
The Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries said Wednesday the operation would use crane vessels and a floating dock to raise the ship.
In-yong said on Wednesday (Apr 22) that the decision to raise the ferry was made as the government still hopes to recover the nine missing as they are believed to be inside the ship.
The operation is expected to cost between $91 million and $137 million, and is set to take up to 18 months, the AP reported, citing the oceans ministry. Government officials reportedly said they will, within two months, select a company to lift the Sewol and then devise detailed plans in the coming months.
The work, which the government hopes can begin in September, could take up to 18 months and the cost could rise beyond 200 billion won depending on weather conditions and technical difficulties, the government said in a statement.
Oceans Minister Yoo Ki-june said at the news conference that some preliminary salvage work is expected to start as soon as September, the AP reported.
"The primary risk is that the Sewol is a vessel built more than 20 years ago so there is corrosion in its body," Park In-yong, the retired navy admiral who heads the newly formed Ministry for Public Safety and Security, told a briefing.