To Thailand, where the wreck of the pleasure boat Phoenix – which sank in July killing 47 Chinese holidaymakers – is about to be raised. The boat is lying on the seabed about eight kilometers off the popular Phuket island. CGTN's Martin Lowe sent this exclusive report from aboard the recovery vessel.

The biggest difficulty is the depth at which the Phoenix is lying. The boat is 45 meters below the surface. This deep, divers can only work for short periods. Already three divers have stayed down too long – and had to be rushed to hospital and placed in decompression chambers. The recovery team was on the brink of bringing the Phoenix to the surface when the tail of Typhoon Mangkhut swept through, destroying much of the work that had been done to attach flotation tanks to the hull.

That work has now had to begin again. Though the bodies of all 47 Chinese holidaymakers who drowned when the Phoenix sank on July 5 have been recovered, divers are still finding personal possessions such as money, passports and mobile phones. These are being handed to officials. The recovery plan is to lift the Phoenix from the seabed and tow the boat underwater to shallower depths. Then it will be floated to the surface, and taken to Phuket for a full forensic examination.

MARTIN LOWE PHUKET, THAILAND "There are still many questions about the sinking of the Phoenix and the terrible loss of life. Investigators hope that raising the wreck will finally begin to provide some much-needed answers."

The boat's design and seaworthiness will be crucial to any criminal prosecution of the operators – and great care is being taken to preserve evidence when it is raised. Martin Lowe, CGTN, Phuket.