Submarine Salvage Expedition Led by German Archaeologist Labeled "Baffling Recovery"

In a controversial turn of events, the German U-boat U16, which sank in the North Sea off the coast of Scharhorn in 1919, was salvaged on Monday night. The operation, however, has been criticized as "haphazard" and an "illegal hasty action" by Hamburg's State Archaeologist, Rainer-Maria Weiss.

The authority responsible for the salvage operation was the Waterways and Shipping Administration of the Federal Government, specifically the Waterways and Shipping Office Elbe-North Sea, under the Federal Waterways and Shipping Directorate. Surprisingly, the Federal Agency for Real Estate Tasks (BImA), which owns the wreck, was not involved in the early stages of the operation.

U16, not considered an archaeological object that needs care by Rainer-Maria Weiss, lies at a depth of around 20 meters off the island of Scharhorn. According to information from the BSH, one part of the wreck could have lifted if the other side had tilted. During the operation, the boat broke into two parts, but the steel, known for its thick walls, remains in excellent condition, with no defects or rust holes.

Rainer-Maria Weiss believes there was a chain of oversights that led to the operation. He suggests that U16 could have been simply lifted and placed back into the water a few meters further instead of being fully salvaged. He describes the operation as a "gross disregard for any regulations".

Images from an echo sounder showed water-filled depressions on the wreck of U16, which were one of the reasons for frequent inspections, most recently in 2023. The BSH reported that these inspections were necessary due to the water-filled depressions observed on it.

Rainer-Maria Weiss is responsible for all underwater cultural heritage around Scharhorn, as it is within Hamburg's territorial waters. He only learned about the operation from the newspaper. Despite the controversy, he does not believe that the salvaged wreck will rust away in a few days.

The Federal Maritime and Hydrographic Agency defended the salvage operation, stating that it was necessary due to the relevance of the wreck of U16 for the safety of shipping and fairway maintenance after the adjustment of the Elbe fairway. U16 is known among military collectors and U-boat enthusiasts.

This salvage operation has sparked a debate, with Rainer-Maria Weiss calling for more transparency and professionalism in such operations in the future. The fate of the salvaged parts of U16 remains to be seen.

Submarine Salvage Expedition Led by German Archaeologist Labeled "Baffling Recovery"