Nazi submarine, U-864 German sub, was hit by torpedoes from the British submarine HMS Venturer as it tried to get to Japan with its cargo in 1945 but sank off Norway’s shores. Now the Norwegian government wants to remove the sub because it is an obvious environmental hazard.
Norwegian Minister of Fisheries and Coastal Affairs Helga Pedersen told that the wreck contains about 67 tons of mercury poses a significant threat to the environment. Pederson also told that they took this decision out of concern for the environment, the fishermen and the local population.
She also explained that the mercury that was destined to be turned into weapons in Japan, the sub was carrying blueprints for a new class of German jet fighter, the Messerschmitt Me 262. When the Nazi sub was sank, the vessel broke in two pieces killing all 73 sailors on board. The sub now lies two nautical miles off Fedje Island at a depth of 150 metres.
It was in 2003 when the sub was located and was discovered to have been leaking several kilograms of mercury per year. The result will eventually be an ecological disaster, therefore, the Norwegian government has decided to remove the sub in 2010 at an estimated cost of one billion kroner.
