Portsmouth Harbour Salvage: Recovering an Abandoned Yacht
Mission in Portsmouth Harbour: Salvaging an Abandoned Yacht
Portsmouth Harbour is steeped in naval history, but it’s also a place where abandoned vessels can become a serious navigational and environmental hazard. Recently, the Boatbreakers team was tasked with a challenging recovery near one of the local military bases, where a neglected yacht had ended up grounded on a beach.
The Water-Side Recovery
The operation began at the water’s edge. Abandoned boats left on beaches quickly become targets for vandals or start to break up under the tide’s force. The team from Quay Lane boatyard with our assistance successfully re-floated the yacht and prepared her for a tow.
Navigating the busy waters of Portsmouth Harbour, we towed the vessel along to Quay Lane Boat Yard in Hardway. This location provided the perfect staging ground to transition the yacht from the water to the road.
De-Masting and the Hiab Lift
Once at Quay Lane, the technical work began. To make the yacht safe for road transport, she had to be de-masted. The yard team efficiently stripped the standing rigging and lowered the mast. Ensuring the vessel’s height was within legal limits for transport.
With the mast secured, we sent in our specialist Hiab truck. The yard team hoisted the yacht from the slipway and secured her onto the bed of the truck, ready for the final journey back to our decommissioning facility.
Watch the Action on YouTube
This recovery was a great example of the logistical coordination required for harbour salvage. We captured the entire process on film from the beach tow to the final lift.
We will be posting the full recovery video on the Boatbreakers YouTube channel very soon! Make sure to subscribe so you don’t miss the footage of the team in action.
