The Wilmington Police Department’s boat, moored on the Christina River downtown, sank Saturday. No one was onboard when it went down, police said.
It was later hauled back to the surface.
Wilmington police spokesperson David Karas said the boat “experienced an issue that caused it to begin to sink,” but did not elaborate. The boat was “recovered” about two hours later and is now “being assessed to evaluate necessary repairs,” Karas said.
He said they are still trying to determine why it went under.
The effort to rescue the boat shut down Beech Street near the Children’s Museum and blocked off part of the Riverfront boardwalk. Onlookers gathered near caution tape to watch the effort to pull this boat above water unfold.
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First responders carried large inflatables, pipes and diving gear down to the dock where the 27-foot boat is usually stationed. Before the boat was pulled out of the water, no part of it was visible above the surface.
In order to lift the boat, a diver brought flotation devices down to place between the boat and the riverbed. The inflatables then lifted the boat far enough out of the water for a crane to pull it the rest of the way out.
Send story tips or ideas to Hannah Edelman at hedelman@delawareonline.com. For more reporting, follow them on Twitter at @h_edelman.
