U.S. Helps Relocate Sunken Ships in Saranda

TIRANA, August 30 – Six boats which were sunk at the southern Port of Sarand롩n 1997 have been lifted and relocated under a joint U.S-Albanian project, the US embassy said in a statement.
U.S. Charg顤 ‘Affaires in Tirana, Deborah Jones, was in the costal southern town of Saranda last month to attend the ceremony marking the successful conclusion of a joint project in which the USNS Grapple lifted and relocated the boats. The ceremony was also attended by Deputy Minister of Defense Eqrem Spahia, Minister of Tourism and Culture Ferdinand Xhaferi, senior military chiefs, local government officials as well as ship crew and local port authorities. The Charg顮oted that U.S. – Albanian relations were multi-faceted, while stressing the importance of extending and furthering cooperation on more similar projects. Thanks to the project, the port has been opened up for more development and the relocated ships have been turned into an artificial reef.