The Norwegian Coastal Administration has recommended covering the Nazi Germany submarine wreck U-864 and the contaminated seabed off Fedje as a permanent environmental measure, according to a report published on September 1.
Resting at a depth of about 150 metres off Vestland, the vessel contains a cargo of mercury that has caused pollution in the surrounding area over time.
In 2024, the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Fisheries commissioned the agency to assess whether parts of the mercury cargo could be removed prior to covering or if direct encapsulation was preferable, placing particular emphasis on environmental risk.
While investigations revealed that remotely controlled underwater systems could technically retrieve mercury containers from parts of the wreck, the agency found that salvage work carries higher costs and a greater risk of spreading pollution than direct covering.
“The report provides important new knowledge about the condition of the wreck and what measures can reduce the environmental risk in the long term. We will now thoroughly review the Norwegian Coastal Administration's recommendations,” noted Minister of Fisheries and the Oceans Marianne Sivertsen Næss.
Following this review, the ministry will, in line with a Storting decision, commission an additional study from the coastal administration on raising the submarine with cargo or removing the torpedoes to establish a technically, economically and safety-wise sound solution.
