Benalmádena's marina approves a new tender to remove the remains of the Willow, which has been sunk since 2019. The cost amounts to 313,000 euros and the operation will require diamond wire and specialised divers.
The Willow, an old US Navy ship that lies semi-submerged in Benalmádena's marina since 2019, continues to cause trouble. The marina's Board of Directors has approved a new set of conditions to contract the dismantling works of the hull, with a base budget of 313,000 euros before taxes. This figure reflects the technical complexity of an operation that has been delayed and increased in cost over the years.
A highly complex technical operation
Technical reports indicate that it will be necessary to use diamond wire to cut the remains of the hull underwater. This system, similar to that used in quarries, will allow the structure to be divided into manageable fragments before extraction. The intervention also includes the use of a heavy-duty crane to lift the pieces to the adjacent dock, where they will be cut into smaller pieces for transport to a waste facility.
The budget also includes a provision for specialised divers, who will be responsible for assessing the condition of the hull, assembling the underwater machinery, and supervising the entire process. It is not a simple task: the Willow measures about 30 meters in length and its weight, combined with sediment accumulation, complicates any manoeuvre.
The port councillor, José Luis Bergillos, has acknowledged that "the dismantling operation of the Willow vessel is proving more complex than initially anticipated due to the dimensions of the hull and its location." This statement contrasts with the initial optimism of 2020, when it was announced that the ship would be removed "within months."
A luxury eyesore that has been in the water for six years
The Willow, which once was a luxury yacht of the US Navy, partially sank in Benalmádena's marina in 2019 after a storm. Since then, the hull has remained semi-submerged, occupying 19 berths that the port cannot commercially exploit. For local sailors and businesses, the ship has become a visual and economic nuisance. "It's a shame that such a beautiful port has this 'monument' of rust," comments a local skipper who prefers to remain anonymous.
The new tender comes after the first removal works began in 2025, which proved insufficient. The previous contract, worth 180,000 euros, only managed to remove part of the furniture and some minor elements. Now, with a budget nearly doubled, the dismantling is expected to be definitive. The estimated time to complete the operation is three months from the awarding, although given past experiences, no one dares to provide dates.
For the residents of Benalmádena and tourists strolling through the port, the image of the Willow has already become part of the landscape. But the City Council and the port concessionaire want to put an end to this story. "We will recover those 19 berths, which are necessary for nautical activity and to offer a better image of the port," Bergillos has assured.
Meanwhile, the Willow remains there, swaying in the waters of the Mediterranean, waiting for the diamond wire and divers to do their job. However, with a cost that now exceeds half a million euros when adding the two contracts. Perhaps next summer, tourists will no longer have to take selfies with the ghost ship in the background.
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