Sri Lanka Navy successfully salvages sunken Fast Attack Craft P 4447 off Angulana coast

The Sri Lanka Navy salvaged the Fast Attack Craft (FAC) P 4447, which ran into distress and sank off the coast of Angulana last August, following a specialised diving and salvage operation.

The vessel encountered an unexpected emergency while on patrol on August 15. Following a salvage operation carried out on September 11, the craft was brought to the surface and is being transferred to the Colombo Dockyard premises for further repairs.

Immediately following the accident, a joint rescue operation launched by the Navy, Air Force, Police, and local Angulana fishermen successfully rescued 11 crew members unharmed.

The first phase of the multi-stage operation concluded on September 4, when the remains of the vessel's second-in-command, who had gone missing in the incident, were recovered.

In the second phase, naval diving and salvage teams operated under hazardous underwater conditions and rough sea conditions, strictly following standard safety protocols to systematically raise the vessel from a depth of approximately 80 feet on the seabed.

According to the Navy, specialised technical units—including marine engineering, hull, electrical, and electronic engineering teams—along with diving personnel, contributed significantly to the complex operation. Technical and engineering support provided by the Sri Lanka Ports Authority and Colombo Dockyard PLC also played a pivotal role in the mission's success.