Steel replica may replace Asgard II
Coiste an Asgard, the committee which manages the sail training programme, made the proposal four months after the ship sank off north-west France.
The 25-strong crew was safely evacuated and rescued by the French emergency services as the 27-year-old brigantine went down.
The ship was insured for €3.8m and Mr O’Dea was called upon to order a salvage operation last autumn.
No move was taken and a second survey was then sought by Coiste an Asgard to assess the best options..
Coiste an Asgard is now believed to feel the insurance money would be better used building a steel replacement.
The Defence Department was unavailable for comment last night, but Mr O’Dea said recently: “We must apply hard logic in making these decisions; one cannot make a decision based on emotion.”
He admitted a number of problems with the proposed salvage plan.
