Before dredging operations for the Fehmarnbelt tunnel began, for safety reasons, Femern A/S, the client, had the area in and around the tunnel alignment carefully investigated for any remnants of the war.

In the spring of 2021, unexploded munitions were discovered in the Danish and German parts of the Fehmarnbelt. With the exception of the German depth charge, all finds have since been salvaged and rendered harmless.   

The German depth charge is of the type D II and weighs 125 kg. It was found on the Danish side of the Fehmarnbelt near the German border and the Natura 2000 area ‘Fehmarnbelt’.  

The bomb on the Danish side of the Fehmarnbelt will be detonated under the highest safety measures. 

Protecting nature

A bubble curtain will be used to attenuate the underwater noise from the detonation. Acoustic deterrents, such as pingers and so-called 'seal-scarers', will be used to keep marine mammals, such as porpoises and seals, away from the affected area. Whale watchers will also be deployed to monitor the surrounding area.

"Due to the proximity to the nature protection area and the German border, Femern A/S has carefully coordinated the operation with the relevant German and Danish authorities. The disposal of the bomb is crucial for us to begin the immersion of the tunnel elements from 2024,” says Jens Ole Kaslund, Technical Director, Femern A/S.

During the negotiations at the German Administrative Court in the autumn of 2020, Femern A/S undertook to make a bubble curtain available for any potential detonations in the project area.

For further information please contact Jens Villemoes +45 33 41 44 27