NORWEGIAN POLLUTION CONTROL AUTHORITY WORK ON SHIPWRECKS

Work on shipwrecks is one of the Norwegian Pollution Control Authority's (NPCA) priority areas. The basis for the “Wreck Program” was the desire to have a complete compilation of shipwrecks lying along the Norwegian coast. The project was defined in three phases: registration, priority ranking, and required action stages. A database consisting of 2,100 entries was built up from the study of archives in Norway and abroad. The search was limited to ships of over 100 tons gross weight that had gone down in Norwegian territorial waters after 1914. Wrecks were considered to be one of three types: of high pollution, possible pollution, or no pollution potential. In 1993, the NPCA commissioned the physical inspection of 15 wrecks using divers and remotely operated vehicles (ROVs). Findings were compiled in reports that indicate the condition of the wrecks varies greatly. Corrosion has set in, and the quantity of oil involved is greater than anticipated. This paper covers the registration work, cooperation in planning activities, 1993 inspection reports, and further NPCA plans for Norwegian work on shipwrecks. Experiences relating to emptying wrecks are also noted.