PORTSMOUTH, Va. (WAVY) —The Island Diver is a 55-foot steel hulled vessel and has been the talk of the Portsmouth waterfront, moving up and down the seawall over the past two weeks following a Sept. 6 fire.

All day, Crofton Enterprises worked to float and lift onto a barge the Island Diver with a floating crane that can lift 230 tons, situated on a barge along with industrial strength straps.

All day, the crew was trying to pump enough water out of the Island Diver to lift it out of the water.

It is unknown how heavy the vessel is because the weight of the water inside the hull is unknown, also.

Many came out to watch Crofton — nationally recognized for what they do — do what they do.

“The vessel obviously needed to be taken care of,"said Jeff Mullins, who was out watching. "It is sad

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