The Sunday Times article by John Mooney says that officials are in negotiations with a specialist firm which submitted a "favourable" tender to raise the ship.
The decision appears to be a popular choice following a poll on afloat.ie where readers voted overwhelmingly in support of a decision to raise her.
If a deal is agreed, the company could raise the vessel from the seabed asearly as next spring, weather and tidal conditions permitting. The operation could be paid for using money from the ship's insurance policy.
Asgard II was covered by Allianz, an international firm, for Euro3.8m. The Department of Defence is confident a full insurance payout would cover the entire cost of the salvage operation and a refit of the vessel if it is successfully refloated.
Raise the Asgard - Afloat's 2008 online petitionAfloat is compiling Asgard memories. Did you sail on the ship or do you just remember seeing her sailing by? If you would like to share any thoughts please log on to the afloat.ie forum or post a comment below.