2oceansViber, Rory Allen, spent four days last week documenting the Eihatsu Maru as it lay stranded on Clifton’s First Beach. He’s put together an amazing time lapse of events as they unfolded.

Rory says:

There were three attempts to pull the ship out, two of them failing with the rope snapping and the third being a success. The diesel on the Japanese trawler, which was also carrying fish, had to be pumped into a bladder on the beach to decrease its weight, making it easier to pull out. It ended up being quite a lengthy operation involving teams of specialised staff to operate and to offload machinery, and to coordinate the event.

The diesel was offloaded, a stronger towing point was welded to the rear of the ship and she was pulled out at high tide on Friday the 18th May 2012.

Shot on a Canon 5DMKII and a 24-70mm f2.8.

Did you see the Butler’s delivery at 01:10?

Rory also took these astounding images during the operation:

Check out more of Rory’s work HERE.