The tourist schooner Fernandes was refloated this afternoon, three days after it was beached at Bahar ic-Caghaq to prevent it from sinking after hitting a reef off Ghallis Tower.
Divers from Bezzina Shipyard and from the owners, Captain Morgan, earlier today started plugging the holes in the hull, using wood and a clay-like mixture, before the pumps were rigged to pump out the water, which had reached right of to the bridge of the listing 26-metre vessel..
Flotation bags were also used in the operation.
The Fernandes is expected to be towed out tomorrow.