Sealand after the Fire - Part 3

Part 3 of our rolling series on the Sealand Fire

Pictures taken of the re boarding of the old Roughs Fort Sealand on Sunday 25th June 2006

The Standard's report of Friday 30th June 2006

James left & Liam right with father Michael Bates aboard their RiB

Leaving the Essex Coast at speed bound for the Fort

First sighting of the extensive damage

Much of the superstructure blackened with the window glass gone

View of the RiB & Fort from the second vessel involved in re boarding

The RiB off Sealand

With James Bates preparing for the climb of his life

North leg looking North West with the burnt out framework of the Generator Hut

The North leg looking South East it was this side that the Generator exploded

About to go beneath the Fort for visual inspection of underside of platform base

The North leg from the underside

Looking back at the blackened Fort

A ladder is secured as best possible to the Fort & James prepares for the transfer

The Fishing Boat pulls off & the RiB stands by as James begins the climb

A slow steady climb with nothing beneath but the cold North Sea

Well wishers offer to stand by & help

Transferring his weight to a steel Fort RSJ the ladder tilts at an alarming angle

It's a very long drop

The tricky bit

A final pull

The white knuckle climb's over James Bates made it aboard & starts the winch engine

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