The cost of raising the wreck of the WW2 German submarine U-864 which contains 65 tons of mercury, is now estimated to cost between NOK 1.2 and 2.2 billion, twice as much as estimated earlier.

The wreck, which is located off the Norwegian west coast, near Fedje, north of Bergen, has long been considered an environmental hazard by the local population and environmental groups. 

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.

However, in January this year the 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.

The new report, by the Dovre Group and the Norwegian Institute of Transport Economics (Transportøkonomisk institutt), is critical to the Dutch estimate, and points out several items are unclear.

The new report therefore advises against carrying out the salvage project based on the present contract. It says a new invitation for tenders for the raising of the subamrine should be sent out.

(NRK)

Rolleiv Solholm