Officials plan to move two vessels from behind the Ever Given to make room for the refloating operation. Fuel, ballast water, and several containers were removed from the ship to help lighten it as heavy machinery worked to dig the bow out.[22] Eight tugboats are assisting in the attempt to pull it free.[23] Peter Berdowski, Chief Executive of Royal Boskalis Westminster, stated that the operation "can take days to weeks."[24]