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The family of the skipper involved in the tragic collision between L'Ecume II and a Condor ferry in December has been informed after a body was recovered from the wreck of the fishing trawler on Wednesday evening.
In an update shared shortly before 21:00 this evening, Andy Shearwood, the Senior Investigating Officer in what has been termed Operation Nectar commented: “This evening, the team working on the recovery of the L’Ecume II fishing trawler recovered a body from the wreck.
"The Michieli family have been informed and the body has now been brought ashore.
"An identification process will be taking place in due course, and we will not be commenting further until this has been confirmed.
"Our thoughts remain with the Michieli family who our Family Liaison Officers continue to support."
Pictured: The family of L'Ecume II skipper Michael Michieli are being supported, Police said.
The L’Ecume II fishing trawler sank on Thursday 8 December following a collision with the Commodore Goodwill freight ship off Jersey’s west coast, triggering an immediate search-and-rescue operation spanning 36 hours.
A follow-on recovery operation using the offshore support vessel MV Freja took place in December.
Two bodies were recovered from the wreck and identified as crewmen Jervis Ramirez Baligat and Larry Simyunn from the Philippines, but the third person on board – skipper Michael ‘Mick’ Michieli – was not found.
In February, it was decided that the vessel should be raised for both "evidential gain and for humanitarian reasons".
The Herbosch-Kiere Gaverland recovery barge travelled the wreck site this week.
The body recovered from the wreck this evening is yet to be identified.
The Chief Minister issued a statement on Thursday morning, thanking islanders for the "community focused response" to the tragedy.
Deputy Kristina Moore said: "I am aware that a body has been recovered from the wreck of the L'Ecume II by the teams who are working on the recovery operation.
"My thoughts and prayers remain with the Michieli family at this very difficult time, while the formal identification process takes place.
"I want to take this opportunity to thank Islanders and our local media for their continued focus on providing the dignified, community focused response that makes Jersey stand out among nations.
"The space and privacy provided to the teams working on the recovery efforts is ensuring that they complete the operation in the most appropriate and necessary way."
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