Efforts are under way to transport the Sewol ferry to a semisubmersible ship which is standing by in waters some three kilometers from where the ship was salvaged.
 
Vice Minister of Oceans and Fisheries Yoon Hag-bae told reporters on Friday that the Sewol ferry will set out for the semisubmersible ship on Friday afternoon. Yoon said that it is expected to take around two hours for the Sewol to reach the waters where the semisubmersible ship is standing ready.
 
The two barges straddling the Sewol will be towed by five ships because they are not powered.
 
The oceans ministry is aiming to complete the loading of the Sewol on the semisubmersible ship by midnight.
 
Earlier at 11:10 a.m. Friday, the salvaging team lifted the Sewol 13 meters above the sea surface and launched efforts to fasten the ship to the jacking barges.