Mammoet nets U-boat salvage

MAMMOET Salvage said today it has won a contract to salvage a sunken wartime German submarine off the coast of Norway, which has a cargo of mercury.

The mercury will either be removed by encasing U-864 to prevent any pollution leaks or by recovering the wreck from the seabed.

The submarine sank of the coast of Bergen in 1945 after being torpedoed by the submarine HMS Venturer, with the loss of 73 sailors.

The vessel was carrying 67 tonnes of toxic metallic mercury, as well as weapons.

The decision on whether the submarine will be salvaged or uncased will be made by Norway's parliament.

Mammoet previously salvaged the Russian submarine Kursk in 2001.

http://www.fairplay.co.uk/secure/DailyNews...020081111000044

Photos of the wreck

http://www.bt.no/miljo/article212064.ece

More info on U-864

http://www.uboat.net/boats/u864.htm