Goa, July 4 -- A second pontoon, equipped with an additional crane, has arrived at Chorao to aid the ongoing effort to recover the stranded ferry Betim, fuelling hopes that a full-scale salvage operation is finally set to begin.

The ferry has remained partially submerged at the Chorao Island ramp since July 23, when one of its tanks became flooded. While three parked bikes that sank along with the vessel were recovered the same evening, the ferry itself has posed a far greater challenge for the River Navigation Department (RND), which has now been battling the situation for over 10 days.

According to RND sources, the operation to secure the ferry to the pontoon has been repeatedly hampered by poor underwater visibility. Divers tasked wi...