More than 90 years after sinking, the Säntis steamship will resurface from Lake Constance.
Sunk in 1933 due to being unfit to sail and expensive to scrap, the well-preserved steamship, resting at almost 690ft, is set to be raised for public display. Salvagers have received approval for the retrieval operation.
Restoring 'Titanic of the Alps'
Silvan Paganini, president of the Ship Salvage Association, expressed the main goal of presenting the well-preserved 'Titanic of the Alps' to the public. The Säntis, initially a ferry service on Lake Constance for 40 years, carried up to 400 passengers before economic challenges, and a switch from coal to oil led to its deliberate sinking in 1933.
Sunk to a depth of 690ft (210m) in Lake Constance, the Säntis remained largely forgotten until an underwater survey in 2013 rediscovered its location. Purchased by the Romanshorn Ship Salvage Association, plans were initiated to bring the ship back to the surface.
It was nicknamed the 'Titanic of the Alps' since the Säntis shares technical similarities with the infamous ship that sunk in 1912, featuring a rare three-cylinder steam engine and sinking in a manner reminiscent of the iconic ocean liner.
Despite being older than the Titanic, the Säntis is better preserved due to the conditions of the deep mountainous lake. However, an invasive species of mussels now poses a threat to the ship's preservation.
Paganini explained that economic challenges, including the ship's transition to an oil-driven engine, led to its sinking in 1933 as it was deemed unnecessary. The ship's dismantling during the crisis included salvaging usable materials, leaving it at the lake's bottom.
Through successful crowdfunding efforts raising over 200,000 Swiss Francs (£182,000), the Säntis is poised for resurfacing and subsequent restoration at the Romanshorn shipyard. Paganini emphasized the goal of showcasing this historic monument to the public, preserving the legacy of predecessors.
Quagga Mussels Pose Threat to 'Titanic of the Alps' as Salvage Operations Begin
First found in Lake Constance in 2016, the quagga mussels in the steamship are an invasive species that can rapidly proliferate, primarily facilitated by recreational watercraft.
The Fisheries Research Station Baden-Württemberg's 2022 study accentuates the mussels' prevalence in the lake-bottom ecosystem, intensifying concerns regarding their potential envelopment of the submerged Säntis ship.
Already detected on the Säntis' chimney, these mussels prompt scheduled salvage operations set to commence in March. Silvan Paganini, president of the Ship Salvage Association, plans to employ lifting bags-subaquatic balloons filled with air-to gradually elevate the vessel. The initial lift in March aims to raise the Säntis to a depth of 40ft (12m), followed by a final ascent to the surface scheduled for April.
After resurfacing, the Säntis will undergo refurbishment at a nearby Romanshorn shipyard. Paganini envisions showcasing the ship in a Swiss museum, even as Canton Thurgau declines financial backing, compelling him to explore alternative buyers for the salvaged wreck.
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