NY police official: Boat retrieval going slowly

Updated 3:03 PM ET

(CBS/AP) OYSTER BAY, N.Y. - A New York police official says FBI divers are contending with murky water conditions in a slow, deliberate effort to retrieve a yacht that capsized and sank, killing three children.

The 34-foot Kandi Won is about 60 feet below the surface, off the north shore of Long Island. It sank July 4 with 27 people onboard following a fireworks display.

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John Azzata, commander of the Nassau County homicide squad, says divers are making slow progress in securing the vessel before bringing it to the surface using large inflatable air bags. The process started Tuesday shortly after 8 a.m.

As reported by CBS Station WCBS New York, Nassau County Police Chief Steve Skrynecki said: "We will be looking further into the recommended number of people who should be on this boat versus the number of people who were on this boat along with a myriad of other issues that go along with this incident."

Investigators are trying to determine if the boat was overcrowded. They also hope to learn if there were enough lifejackets. The operator has said a wave capsized the vessel as a storm approached.