BANGKOK, Nov. 7 (Xinhua) -- The police investigation into July's capsizing of a tour boat in Phuket which killed 47 Chinese tourists is expected to be finished shortly, according to a police general.

Acting Immigration Bureau commissioner general Pol. Maj. Gen. Surachate Hakparn said on Wednesday that a barge-mounted crane was provided from Singapore to retrieve the tour boat, named Phoenix, in Thailand's southern tourist island.

The crane would begin work on Thursday or Friday and it might take several days for the sunken boat to be lifted up onto the surface of the sea, Pol. Maj. Gen. Surachate said.

Authorities had earlier failed in several attempts to retrieve the boat, which capsized due to strong winds and high tides off the northeastern part of the island province on July 5.