Hazardous debris found in "Spring Spaghetti" at "Mach Mikado"
In the heart of the Baltic Sea, off the coast of Boltenhagen, a significant operation to remove and dispose of old ammunition is currently underway. This project, led by the company Seascape, has been running since August 8 and is expected to continue for several months.
The operation is being carried out by the Rostock-based company Baltic Divers, which operates the recovery platform "Baltic Lift." Diver Dirk Schoene, a 60-year-old veteran of the operation, has been involved since February.
The ammunition, presumed to have been sunk together with a scow (transport barge without propulsion) in 1946 in the Wismar Bay, is being recovered from a depth of nine meters. So far, several tons of old ammunition have been retrieved, and the operation is ongoing around the clock, day and night.
The ammunition is stored underwater in special containers until it can be transported to land for disposal in Munster, Lower Saxony, once the necessary permits are in place. The recovered items include not only ammunition but also steel helmets, gas masks, and Enfield carbines.
The tender for the platform, which will allow for the disposal of ammunition directly at sea through dismantling and burning, is underway. Many bidders are involved, and the contract is expected to be awarded in the first quarter of 2026, with completion by 2027. The platform is estimated to cost around 70 million euros, to be funded from the federal government's immediate program for munitions remnants in the North and Baltic Seas, with a total of 100 million euros in federal funds available.
Experts and authorities are concerned about the release of the toxic explosive TNT into the water, which has already been found in fish. The goal of the project is to address this issue and ensure the safety of the Baltic Sea and its inhabitants.
An estimated 1.6 million tons of World War II ammunition is rotting in the North and Baltic Seas, partly buried in thick layers of mud and sediment, and with the wooden crates having rotted. This operation near Boltenhagen is just one step in a larger effort to clean up these waters and protect marine life.
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