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Bremerhaven (dpa) - Due to strong winds and turbulent seas, the departure of the research vessel "Heincke" from Bremerhaven to Helgoland, which was planned for Wednesday evening, has been postponed.

Ten scientists want to go to the wreck of the cruiser "SMS Mainz", which was sunk west of Heligoland in 1914.

Samples are to be taken in order to analyze possible dangers for the North Sea that warfare agents in the wreck could pose.

Casting is now planned for Thursday morning 6 a.m., said a spokesman for the German Maritime Museum in Bremerhaven.

According to official estimates, there are around 1.3 million tons of ammunition from World War II in the German North Sea alone.

Little is known about the effects that contaminated sites have on fish, plants and people.

A research team led by the German Maritime Museum is looking for answers as part of the “North Sea Wrecks” project launched in 2018.

© dpa-infocom, dpa: 210407-99-119488 / 2

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North Sea Wrecks project