The buoy salvage method, also known as the air bag salvage method, will likely become the most common way to recover sunken ships in the future. To use this method, salvage teams sink air bladders to the seafloor and then move them under the wreck. Once in place, they inflate the air bladders to lift the ship. To control the ship’s position, trim angle, and floating speed during recovery, teams usually raise the ship at low tide. This timing helps ensure stability and accuracy when the ship resurfaces. When creating the salvage plan, operators must strictly control the air bag inflation volume. They need to reach the required buoyancy within a set time to prevent accidents during the lift.
The full buoyancy method works differently. Here, crews inject high-pressure gas into the ship’s compartments. This gas creates internal buoyancy, helping the ship float gradually. They then tow the wreck to calmer or shallower waters for sealing and repairs.
The floating crane salvage method suits large wrecks. Crews use massive cranes to lift heavy sunken ships directly from the seabed.
