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Joyce Man

Asia's largest floating derrick, which arrived in Hong Kong yesterday, is expected to  lift a Ukrainian tugboat that sank in waters off Tuen Mun  by the end of the month.
At noon, the 40,792-tonne, 167.5-metre-long Hua Tian Long,  visible from 2km away, sailed from the west through the Urmston Channel  to the site of last month's sinking, its 4,000-tonne crane dwarfing passing ships.
Lau Wing-kin,  from the Marine  Department, said it would begin to lift the Neftegaz-67,  which sank last month within a few days.
The Ukrainian Transportation and Communication Ministry said yesterday the Neftegaz-67 would resurface on  Wednesday and be brought ashore on  Sunday week.
The Neftegaz-67 collided with the mainland-registered Yaohai cargo ship on March 22. Seven crew members escaped alive, three were found dead, and 15 remain missing - their bodies are believed to be in the tugboat.
The Guangzhou Salvage Bureau, which owns the Hua Tian Long and is leading the salvage work, estimates the operation will  take two weeks and conclude at the end of this month, Mr Lau said. Work will continue around the clock.
After arriving, the Hua Tian Long was to position itself, lower eight anchors over a large area and prepare its work platform.
Then it was to co-ordinate with the Nan Yang, another floating derrick owned by the bureau that arrived last Wednesday. Workers would then position the crane and plug the tugboat's fuel tank and air ducts, Mr Lau said.
A few days later, they would lift the overturned tugboat from the seabed, flip it underwater, and raise it to the surface.
Workers would patch up hull damage and extract water, allowing the Neftegaz-67 to float again.
Mr Lau said policemen would board the tugboat to search for the missing crew members, followed by investigators.
The Ukrainian ministry said divers had attached four of the five cables needed for the salvage operation to the Neftegaz-67 and were attaching the fifth yesterday.
The department has cordoned off 120 hectares around the site, on a deep-sea channel with high cargo-carrier traffic east of Siu Mo To island. Only vessels directly involved with the salvage operation have access.
Mr Lau said the Hua Tian Long had to change its path from the east side of Lantau island because its crane was too tall to pass under the Tsing Ma Bridge.
Heavy task
After several days' preparations, the Hua Tian Long will attempt to salvage the Ukrainian tug boat. Here's the plan
1 The Neftegaz-67 will be lifted from the seabed and flipped over
2 After being brought to the surface, the tug's hull will be patched and water drained
3 Police will then enter the vessel to retrieve bodies and a full investigation will be launched



Ukrainian tugboat to be lifted by end of month