Cost of Raising Toxic Submarine Doubles
Controversy is growing in Norway over a sunken wartime German U-boat whose toxic contents threatens a key fishing region.
The cost of raising the wreck of the U-864 which contains 65 tons of mercury, is now estimated to cost between 1.2 and 2.2 billion Norwegian krone (C$215 – 396 million) , twice as much as estimated earlier.
The shipwreck was located in March 2003 by the Royal Norwegian Navy 2.2 miles west of the island of Fedje in the North Sea, at 150 metres depth. The wreck, which is close to an area fished by EU vessels, has long been considered an environmental hazard by the local fishermen and environmental groups.
U-864’s mission was to transport military equipment to Japan destined for the Japanese military industry, including approximately 67 tons of metallic mercury in 1,857 32kg steel flasks stored in her keel. That the mercury was contained in steel canisters was confirmed when one of the canisters was located and brought to the surface during surveys on her wreck in 2005.
Experts had long disagreed on whether or not the wreck should be raised or if it would be better to build a sarcophagus which would isolate the mercury from the marine environment, thereby eliminating the pollution hazard. A three year study by the Norwegian Coastal Administration has recommended entombing the wreck in 12 metre thickness of sand, with a reinforcing layer of gravel or concrete to prevent erosion. This was proposed as a permanent solution to the problem, and the proposal notes that similar techniques have been successfully used to contain mercury-contaminated sites.
But just under a year ago the Oslo Government decided that the wreck should be raised, and a Dutch salvage company won a bid to raise the wreck at a cost of NOK 800 million (C$144 million). Helga Pedersen, the Norwegian fisheries minister at the time, said she was aware of the concern by the local fishing community about contamination.
The U-864 was launched in 1943 and sunk by the Royal Navy sub HMS Venturer in what is thought to be the only encounter of one submarine sinking another while actually submerged. All 73 men on board U-864 perished.
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