The city of Schleswig is fighting for sunken boats: who will be responsible for salvaging them?

The city of Schleswig is fighting for sunken boats: who will be responsible for salvaging them?

Two sunken boats are currently causing trouble in the Wikinghafen in Schleswig - the pleasure boat “Dirkje” and the cutter “Simone”. Both ships not only sank to the bottom of the harbor, but are also considered worthless wrecks, according to a report. The city of Schleswig has now initiated an investigation into whether it makes sense to salvage the damaged boats. According to ndr.de, the costs for salvage and disposal amount to around 100,000 euros - an amount that is far above the scrap value of the two boats.

After sinking, the pleasure boat “Dirkje” and the cutter “Simone” are not only a financial problem, but also a potential source of danger for the port and the environment. The city is therefore carefully examining what a safe rescue procedure could look like. It is important that possible risks for structures and the environment are excluded.

Problem case with cutter “Simone”

The “Simone” in particular has caused a great stir since it sank at the beginning of August. The 24 meter long ship was pumped out and is now floating again, but no one is taking care of the disposal. After the owner Ernst Schliemann died a few weeks before the incident, Björn Hansen, the operator of the Wikinghafen, is confronted with a messy situation. He reports that no one feels responsible for the ship and has already hired a lawyer to find an heir to take care of the cutter. The legal difficulties that Hansen had with Schliemann also run through the story, as he had already given notice of termination for the berth.

Despite the pump, which has been continuously pumping water out of the ship since August - about one cubic meter per day - the cutter remains an unsolved problem. Hansen bears the electricity costs and hopes to receive information from Schliemann's estate administrator or his lawyer. How long the situation will last remains uncertain, and Hansen's wish for quick compensation has not yet been fulfilled.

The future of sunken boats

Given the high salvage costs and the unclear ownership structure, it remains to be seen how the city of Schleswig deals with this problem. It is a challenge that encompasses both economic and environmental aspects. As the trials continue, the question remains: Who will take responsibility for the sunken boats in the Viking harbor?