U-864 Sank in 1945 With 67 Tons of Mercury — What Norway Found in 2003 Changed Everything

Описание: The German submarine U-864 was sunk by British submarine HMS Venturer on February 9, 1945, in the only known instance of one submerged submarine sinking another while both were underwater—but what made U-864's sinking truly catastrophic wasn't discovered until 2003 when Norwegian surveys revealed the wreck was leaking 67 tons of mercury into the North Sea, creating one of Europe's worst environmental disasters. U-864 was carrying liquid mercury in steel canisters as cargo for delivery to Japan, where it would be used in weapons production. When the submarine was torpedoed and sank off Norway's coast, the mercury cargo went down with her and sat undisturbed for nearly 60 years.
The 2003 discovery changed everything. Mercury is one of the most toxic substances known, and 67 tons leaking from corroding canisters posed catastrophic threat to North Sea fisheries, marine life, and human health through contaminated seafood. Norwegian authorities faced impossible choice: leave the wreck undisturbed and risk continued contamination, or attempt recovery that could rupture remaining intact canisters and release massive mercury spill immediately. The wreck sits at 150 meters depth in challenging conditions where any intervention carries enormous risk, and the corroded hull could collapse if disturbed, instantly releasing all remaining mercury.
Decades of debate followed about whether to entomb U-864 in concrete, attempt partial recovery, or leave her alone. Testing confirmed mercury contamination in surrounding sediment and marine life, proving the threat was real and ongoing. In 2017, Norway decided to entomb the wreck in a massive concrete and rock sarcophagus to contain the contamination—a project costing hundreds of millions and taking years to complete. This is U-864—a submarine carrying 67 tons of mercury that became environmental disaster 58 years after sinking, changing from historical wreck to toxic time bomb threatening an entire ocean ecosystem.

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