The salvage of the sunken Sewol ferry could continue into 2017, a South Korean minister has said.
An initial estimate suggested the vessel could be raised in July this year, but this timeline has slipped to August, September and now October.
The Japan Times cited maritime minister Kim Young-suk as saying further delays could occur.
“In the worst-case scenario, we may not be able to complete the process this year,” he said. “So we are in the process of readjusting the timing of the lift.”
Poor visibility in water depth of 40 metres has been blamed for the difficulties.
The ferry sank in 2014, killing 304 people. The Chinese-led salvage began in mid-June.
Twenty steel “lifting” beams have been fitted to the ferry, but another six must be attached to the stern, which is partly buried on the seabed.
