A view of the dredger Canton River submerged on its side at Hong Kong. A barge (No.16) is alongside the upturned hull, partly obscuring the dredger. Behind the dredger is one of the steam lifting cranes with its chains attached.

In the background, behind the steam crane is either HMS Centurion (1892) or HMS Barfleur (1892), both pre-Dreadnought battleships stationed at Hong Kong. The warship in the distance on the right is also either Centurion or Barfleur.

In the foreground is a single-masted wooden vessel with crew pulling on a line leading into the water, possibly weighing anchor.

The original negative envelope was labelled: 'Raising Dredger, H.K. Jan 1901'. Sir Percy Scott was involved with righting the dredger between 2 and 18 January. It was eventually raised in early March 1901.