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.
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.
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 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.
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:
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.
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.
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 |
|
Stockholm | 1957 | Oil | Oil salvaged | |
Heidarstindur | Skåne | 1990 | Oil |
|
Hoheneichen | 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 | Oil salvaged |
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 |
|
The shipwrecks at Måseskär | 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 |
Sandön | Skåne | 1975 | Oil, phosphate | Remediated |
Sefir | Kalmar | 1980 | Salvaged | Shipwreck salvaged 1981 |
Skytteren | Västra Götaland | 1942 | Oil |
|
Thetis | 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.