From Russia with ? Photo

Photographer’s Note

The inhabitants of Sørvær (a tropicold paradise #1, #2 and #4) simply could not believe what drifted in from the arctic sea on Christmas eve 1994 - the Russian battleship Murmansk (17000 tons/211 meters). While it was being towed to India for destruction the wire snapped and the vessel settled outside the harbour - luckily it does not block its entrance.

A rather ironic fact is that on the ridge above the ship there's a NATO radar that never even noticed what was approaching...
- -
Answering the comments, I can assure you that moving it has been suggested, discussed, debated and turned down several times since December 25 1994, and it is not likely to happen any time soon (until the inevitable oil spill?)

And, the vessel is frequently used by the local youth as a party hang-out and love nest.

BTW feel free to spot the seagull

Rinie_Hoff, nfriedli, RGatward, pelib, elena, gadinga, mikhalych, joergen115, mortijo has marked this note useful

Critiques | Translate

Liora (1857) 2004-05-16 15:58

A very interesting story and a great shot... I wonder why nobody moved it from there when it happened (is it a reef now?) ... I also hope the radar people learned a lesson...

Rinie_Hoff (9334) 2004-05-16 16:00

Hi Edvard, Nice and very sharp picture, wtih a rather unusual subject. I like the colors very much, and your note about the Nato radar is very funny. Feel much safer now;-)
Has the ship been removed?

waskahegan (0) 2004-05-16 16:28

That is rather unusual, thank you to share it with us.

Ebbe (9571) 2004-05-16 16:55

With all the deep fjords you have it had to sink in shallow water ;o)

The low sun gives a nice glow to the rust and the ship is well placed in the frame. I like the rocks in the foreground, they add depth to the picture but also have different shape than the other rocks.

BTW, have you seen the police station in my hometown Östersund? It was built around 1970 in that kind of steel that is supposed to just rust and the architecture is awful. It is by the people called "Bismark" for a good reason. it looks a lot like this ship ;o)

[2]

pelib (416) 2004-05-16 17:37

Great shot, good sharp and nice colors.
Ik like ships and normaly it is not always possible to make a picture of a shipwrek.
Interesting story.

RGatward (19749) 2004-05-17 3:58

Interesting note, and odd shot.

lost (694) 2004-05-17 5:38 [Comment]

Show Comment

gadinga (606) 2004-05-18 8:53

I really like your note. It really helps to expand on the picture and the 2 together tell an excellent story. Also I think your perspective works nicely to show others the coastline in your part of the world.

mikhalych (1311) 2004-05-25 11:57

I've read about this incident in one of the guides while planning my Scandinavia trip. And thanks to your posting I now have a possibility to see it. Too bad we will have no time to get so far north.

Very interesting you wrote.

BTW, I've spotted the seagull :)

joergen115 (2244) 2004-06-05 14:23 [Comment]