The German U-boat U-864 was downed in World War II and has been lying on the seabed ever since, but so have its 65 tonnes of toxins. Norway will investigate whether new technology can salvage the U-864, in a more secure way than previously agreed upon, national broadcaster NRK reported. The sub lies at depth of 150 meters outside Fedje in Hordaland County.
It wasn’t discovered by the navy until 2003 when the extent of its danger was ascertained.
The Norwegian Food Safety Authority urged pregnant and breastfeeding women, and young children to abstain from eating seafood caught near the wreck.
Mercury is one of the most dangerous pollutants in the world.
After 15 years of debate, the Norwegian government concluded in the autumn of 2018 that the submarine should be left on the seabed and sealed with a leak-proof cover.
But the plan stalled – and now a new review is looking into the idea of salvaging the mercury.
Conservative MP Ove Trellevik explained: “This is an environmental bomb that sooner or later will have major consequences for society.
For this reason, it is important that I check if it is actually possible to salvage the most mercury than thought before.”
The 88 metre vessel was on a mission from Germany transport a large load of mercury together with parts and engineering drawings to Japan, when it was detected by the British Navy.
On 9th February 1945 it was torpedoed by the British submarine HMS Venturer and sank with all hands in the North Sea west of Bergen.
So far, it is the only documented historical instance of one submarine sinking another while both were submerged.