The salvage operation of the Htee Hlaing Shin vessel, which has been submerged for more than six months along the Thanlwin River bank in Mawlamyine, is now about 70 percent complete, according to the Inland Water Transport Department.

The salvage work began on August 1, 2025. Preparations included gathering and testing necessary equipment for the recovery operation and surveying the condition and position of the sunken vessel. Measures were also taken to prevent the vessel from drifting away with the river current by securing it with anchor chains.

Divers created rope-guided pathways to allow easier entry and exit into the submerged vessel. Pilot ropes were installed, damaged sections of the hull were patched, and air bags and tanks were used to gradually lift the vessel.

The ship has been slowly moved toward shallower waters near the riverbank while water and mud inside the vessel are being pumped out. Efforts have also been made to turn the vessel from an overturned position back to an upright position through a series of step-by-step procedures, according to an official from the Inland Water Transport Department.

Currently, the sunken vessel is being gradually towed to shallow waters where damaged parts of the hull are being repaired, while water and sediment are being removed. Once the vessel fully resurfaces, it will be towed to the Thanlwin Shipyard located on the Mottama side of the river, the official said.

The official added:

“For the recovery of the Htee Hlaing Shin vessel, we have been carrying out the process step by step. From the original sinking point near the Dawei jetty on Strand Road in Mawlamyine, we have now managed to tow the vessel gradually to the riverbank near Stream Hotel on Strand Road. Some parts of the vessel have already been recovered. To tow the vessel safely, the riverbed conditions must also be suitable so that necessary repairs can be carried out. Today (March 9), we are working to tow it further to the area near Attran Hotel on Strand Road. Since that location has the most suitable riverbed conditions, we plan to carry out further repairs there. Once the entire vessel resurfaces, it will be towed to the Thanlwin Shipyard.”

Since the vessel sank, staff from the Inland Water Transport Department have been conducting salvage operations almost daily, except during days with severe weather conditions, which has led to the current progress.

The vessel sank in the early morning of July 21, when heavy rain and strong winds caused the ship’s hull to collide with the jetty pontoon. The already weakened hull cracked and the vessel subsequently sank. The water depth near the Dawei jetty, where the vessel went down, is about 30 feet, according to the department.

The sunken Htee Hlaing Shin vessel had been leased to a private company to operate as a tourist cruise boat along the Thanlwin River, but operations had been suspended due to the rainy season.

The Htee Hlaing Shin is a two-deck ferry-type vessel owned by the Ayeyarwady Division of Inland Water Transport under the Thanlwin branch, the department said.