tugboatMarch 21, 2016 - Salvage experts are installing slings, rigging and other special equipment on the sunken tugboat Specialist to prepare it to be removed from the Hudson River. The current plan is to raise the vessel from the river bottom on Thursday, 3/24.

The Specialist sank in 46 feet of water before dawn on Saturday morning after it struck a stationary barge moored at the Tappan Zee Bridge. The tragic accident took the lives of three members of the crew.

The bodies of two of the crew members, Paul Amon, 63, of Bayville, New Jersey and Timothy Conklin, 29, of Westbury, Long Island, have been recovered.

The body of the third crewman, Harry Hernandez, 56, of Staten Island, remains trapped inside the vessel.

"Repeated attempts were made to recover the body of the third crewman so he could be returned to his family as soon as possible," said Westchester County Executive Robert P. Astorino. "Sadly, the way he is trapped in the wreckage will delay his recovery until next week. Our thoughts and prayers continue for the families of all three crew members."

A 1,000-ton crane barge called the Chesapeake 1000 is being brought in to lift the Specialist out of the river. The tugboat will be "dewatered" using pumps as it is lifted from the river. This process will ensure that any additional fuel oil and contaminated water will be captured to keep additional pollutants out of the river.

Once it is on the surface of the river, the Specialist will be anchored to, or placed upon, a large barge where work can be done to recover the body of Hernandez. Tarps will be put in the place to shield this operation from public view.

The cause of the accident remains under investigation by the Westchester County Police and the U.S. Coast Guard.