The Hurghada Environmental Protection and Conservation Association (HEPCA) described the work, which finished on 15 December as planned, as 'extremely successful'. Now in place are 32 mooring lines and air-escape outlets to prevent further damage to the structure of the wreck.
HEPCA was aided by 'volunteer divers from the Red Sea community and many diving operators, including Red Sea Explorers and blue o two'. It thanked 'all those individuals and organisations who gave their valuable co-operation and support and were instrumental in making this pivotal event happen'.
HEPCA also commended, in particular, 'diving operators and guests for their understanding in being unable to dive the ss Thistlegorm during the period of this urgent conservation work'.
More air-escape outlets are to be drilled at a later date, but this will not require another closure of the site.
Similar projects are now planned for the Rosalie Moller and other wrecks regarded as under threat, as part of the Saving the Red Sea Wrecks Campaign, which was launched by HEPCA at the DIVE 2007 show at Birmingham, UK in October.
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