Locals have spotted cranes working to secure the RV Petrel after it tipped over almost three weeks ago in dry dock.
The boat, a research vessel owned by the United States Navy, toppled over and injured 35 people. It was unclear how long the operation will take to right the 3,371 tonnes vessel as investigators probe the cause of the incident.
A major operation was launched as police, ambulances, the fire service and coastguard were called after the ship became dislodged from its holding at Imperial Dock in Leith, Edinburgh, at about 8.35am on March 22.
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James Walsh, 39, a scaffolder on the docks, was working nearby when he heard the noise of the incident. He said: "It's scary. Very scary.
"Just makes you evaluate everything really. No-one goes to work to be involved in any kind of accident. It's so scary that you go to work and something like that can possibly happen."
While wind speeds of 38mph were recorded in Edinburgh at 8am on March 22, experts say the ship collapse is 'unlikely' to have resulted from high winds.
Dr Iraklis Lazakis, from Strathclyde University's department of marine architecture, told BBC Scotland: "I've never myself come across any such accidents, being involved in a number of dry dock runnings throughout the world, as well as through my academic career.
"No such thing has happened before. It's very, very unusual for such accidents to happen. The dry dock is like a dug-up big ditch or shelf where the ship sits down with all its structure and weight. So it might have been unlikely just to be tipped over by the wind.
"It's something that really needs to be investigated very, very thoroughly to make sure what was the original cause of the whole accident."
Days after the event, a US Navy spokesman said: "We are working closely with the on-site authorities, who are in the best position to help those in need and to provide status updates.
"We will continue to communicate with our contacts at the scene in order to understand what occurred, the actions being taken, and the long-term impacts. Our thoughts and prayers are with those injured and their families, with hopes for a quick and full recovery."
He said the vessel is a 'multi-purpose maritime operations ship' owned by the US Navy and operated by Oceaneering International and is 'capable of supporting oceanographic surveys'. Dales Marine Services, which runs the dry dock, said it has been 'liaising with the emergency services and relevant authorities' in dealing with the incident.
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