Oil removal from 85-year-old sunken shipwreck resumes

Removal of oil from the wreck of the coastal defence ship Ilmarinen, which sank 85 years ago will resume this week, said the Finnish Environment Institute (SYKE) in a press release on Tuesday.

The SYKE, the Finnish Navy and the Finnish Border Guard will start to remove oil from the wreck, in the northern Baltic Sea, about 40 kilometres south of the island of Utö.

Ilmarinen sank on 13 September 1941 after hitting a mine during the World War II.

The goal is to remove oil from the wreck’s tanks safely and in a controlled manner.

The work will be carried out by Navy divers, supported by the Finnish Navy's multipurpose vessel Louhi, which is equipped for oil spill response.

The authorities asked the people to keep clear of the area and allow the operation to proceed undisturbed to ensure safety.

The oil in Ilmarinen’s fuel tanks is a risk to the delicate and vulnerable Baltic Sea. The wreck is estimated to contain about 100,000 litres of light fuel oil.

The operation has been planned and practiced in recent years following a legal amendment in 2023.

The task is demanding, as the wreck lies in deep water in a location exposed to rough seas.

The authorities are also prepared for possible oil spill response tasks in connection with the operation.

In the investigations of the wreck and in the planning and execution of the oil removal, particular attention has also been paid to the sanctity of the grave, as the wreck of Ilmarinen is also the final resting place of the 271 marines who lost their lives in the accident.