Shipwrecks
There are hundreds of shipwrecks along the coasts of Sweden that contain environmentally hazardous substances. When these substances ultimately leak into the marine environment it risks damaging plants, animals and humans.
Environmental risks with shipwrecks
The Swedish Agency for Marine and Water Management (SwAM) is responsible for coordinating the investigations, as well as the recovery of environmentally hazardous substances and lost fishing gear (ghost nets) from shipwrecks in Swedish waters.
There are about 17 000 shipwrecks along the coasts of Sweden and the Swedish Maritime Administration classified 3 000 of these as possibly hazardous for the environment, 300 as hazardous for the environment and 30 of them as an acute environmental threat.
Shipwrecks as an environmental problem
Shipwrecks leaking oil or petroleum products pose risk to marine life in Swedish waters. Organisms living in the vicinity of the shipwreck are mainly affected but the oil can also spread to other areas with the currents. Toxic substances such as oil, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH:s) and heavy metals are taken up by microorganisms and transferred up the food chain to fish and crustaceans.
Several shipwrecks contain large volumes of oil that can, when it leaks out, damage large areas. Read more about the effects of oil spillson our Swedish pages.
Working group
SwAM coordinates the working group involved in the risk assessment and recovery of environmentally hazardous substances and ghost nets from shipwrecks. Other participants in the workgroup are:
Distribution of responsibility in the working group
- Chalmers University of Technology develop the probabilistic risk assessment tool VRAKA
- The Swedish Maritime Administration performs hydrographic surveys to examine the status and position of the shipwrecks.
- Swedish National Maritime Museums contribute with historical information regarding the ship and the wreckage.
- The Swedish Coast Guard and the Swedish Armed Forces (the Navy) dive and film the shipwrecks with remotely operated underwater vehicles (ROV) to investigate if they pose a threat to the environment. The Coast Guard does also perform remediation operations in the event of an acute oil spill.
- SwAM coordinates the investigations and the recovery of hazardous substances and ghost nets. Competent and experienced contractors which SwAM has framework agreements with carry out the work. SwAM also assists in developing new methods for the remediation of shipwrecks.
Reports on environmentally hazardous shipwrecks
- Environmental risks with shipwrecks (2011) Swedish Maritime Administration (in Swedish).
- Environmental hazards with shipwrecks I (2014) Swedish Maritime Administration (in Swedish).
- Environmental hazards with shipwrecks II (2015) Swedish Maritime Administration (in Swedish).
- Shipwrecks in Skagerrak (2006) County Administrative Board Västra Götaland (in Swedish).
- Polluting shipwrecks in Swedish waters (2021) International Oil Spill Conference
If you find a shipwreck or ammunition
If you find ammunition, sea mines or mustard gas, immediately contact the Joint Rescue Co-Ordination Centre (JRCC) or the Emergency Center 112.
If you find a shipwreck, contact the Swedish Maritime Administration.
Map of environmentally hazardous shipwrecks
The list of environmentally hazardous shipwrecks is taken from the Swedish Maritime Administration's report Environmental hazards with shipwrecks (Miljörisker med fartygsvrak) from 2011. Click on the dots to read more about the shipwrecks.
The table lists environmentally hazardous shipwrecks, their position, when they wrecked and the environmentally hazardous substances they carried.
List of environmentally hazardous shipwrecks
Ship | County | Wrecked | Environmentally hazardous substances | Measure taken |
---|---|---|---|---|
Altnes | Halland | 1998 | Oil, petrol coal | |
Bremsund | Kalmar | 1966 | Oil | |
Finnbirch | Kalmar | 2006 | Oil | |
Fu Shan Hai | Danish waters outside of Bornholm | 2003 | Oli | |
Harburg | Stockholm | 1957 | Oil | |
Heidarstindur | Skåne | 1990 | Oil | |
Skåne | 1959 | Oil | Remediated | |
Immen | Stockholm | 1977 | Oil | |
Ingemar | Kalmar | 1984 | Oil | |
Irevik | Skåne | 1967 | Oil | |
Jan Heweliusz | German waters | 1993 | Oil | |
Koronowo | Danish waters | 1979 | Oil | |
Langeland | Västra Götaland | 2009 | Oil | |
Lindesnäs | Sörmland | 1957 | Oil, kerosene | |
Malmi | Gotland | 1979 | Oil | |
Marina | Östergötland | 2006 | Oil | |
Marina av Hönö | Västra Götaland | 2006 | Oil, trawl | Remediated |
Martina | Skåne | 2000 | Oil, hydrochloric acid | |
Minde | Skåne | 1986 | Oil | |
Mundogas | Uppsala | 1966 | Oil, ammonia | |
Västra Götaland | 1946 | Chemical munition, ammunition, oil | ||
Necati Pehlivan | Stockholm | 1954 | Oil | |
Norrtank | Kalmar | 1967 | Oil | Shipwreck salvaged 1967 |
Nynäs I | Stockholm | 1963 | Oil | |
Nynäs IX | Västra Götaland | 1958 | Oil, kerosene | Wreck totally degraded |
Onega | Stockholm | 1960 | Oil | |
Rone | Gotland | 1981 | Oil | Remediated |
Skåne | 1975 | Oil, phosphate | Remediated | |
Sefir | Kalmar | 1980 | Salvaged | Shipwreck salvaged 1981 |
Västra Götaland | 1942 | Oil | ||
Västra Götaland | 1985 | Oil | Oil and ghost net salvaged | |
Tilia | Kalmar | 1972 | Oil | |
Villon | Skåne | 1986 | Oil | |
Wästanvåg | Gävleborg | 1965 | Oil, nitre | |
Östanhav | Kalmar | 1963 | Oil |
The list is taken from the Swedish Maritime Administration's report Miljörisker med fartygsvrak (Environmental hazards with shipwrecks) from 2011.
Visit The Swedish National Heritage Board’s service Fornsök for more information on shipwrecks in Swedish waters.