The government said it will likely postpone salvaging the Sewol ferry until next year citing tough weather conditions in the upcoming winter.

The Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries said on Friday that due to the unfavorable working conditions, lifting of the stern of the ship will likely be put off until next year.

The ministry initially planned to attempt lifting the stern late this month or early next month and complete the remaining process for salvaging the ship by the end of the year.

Five lifting beams need to installed near the stern of the ill-fated ship in order to lift it up. The vessel currently lies on the seabed off Jindo Island in South Jeolla Province.

Shanghai Salvage, the Chinese firm leading the ferry retrieval operation, has installed three lifting beams so far.

Lee Cheol-jo, an acting head of the government task force for salvaging the Sewol, said in a media briefing that the government forecast challenging weather conditions in the winter, adding the number of workable days will be halved from last winter.

He added the government expects that it will have to focus on the preparatory work this year and embark on the lifting of the stern next year.

The government had repeatedly pledged to complete salvaging the ship by this year but the work was hampered numerous times.