Expedition to the German Bight

In March, scientists from the Alfred Wegener Institute (AWI) conducted a research expedition to the German Bight aboard the research vessel FS Heincke. They were supported by SeaTerra, who brought along a specially developed crawler. This expedition focused on the munition disposal area north of Spiekeroog, as well as the wreck of the World War I cruiser SMS Ariadne.

Thanks to its newly integrated remotely operating arm, it was possible to use the crawler to collect organisms directly from the historical war wreck. Like this Metridium senile (sea anemones) were retrieved directly from the hull of the SMS Ariadne and transferred to the University Medical Center Schleswig-Holstein (UKSH) in Kiel for chemical analysis. These investigations enable the assessment of pollutant exposure in marine organisms living immediately attached to a war wreck

Further, during operations in the disposal area, the crawler specifically collected water and sediment samples. sediment samples within the contaminated areas. Additionally, fishery samples were taken in the vicinity of the SMS Ariadne and in a reference area. The subsequent analyses of these samples will provide insights into whether explosive-related compounds accumulate in pelagic and benthic fish species.

For further chemical investigation, sediment samples were collected from the wreck site and a reference area using Van-Veen grabbers. In addition to sediment analyses, benthic organisms were isolated to assess their potential exposure to pollutants.

Cover: © Klara Liebrecht, AWI 2024. All rights reserved.