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Metro
32 minutes ago
- General
- Metro
Mission launched to avert potential catastrophe from WW1 British shipwreck
A sunken British warship is a ticking time bomb that will unleash 'catastrophic damage' unless action is taken, experts have warned. The Ministry of Defence is mounting an expedition to the HMS Cassandra, which struck a mine and sank just weeks after the First World War ended. Today, she lies in the Baltic Sea, slowly leaking oil near the Estonian island of Saaremaa, where she went down with up to 780 tons of fuel, among other pollutants. Now, a British mission will investigate the wreck, as part of an effort to tackle some 8,500 sunken ships that are threatening 'catastrophic damage'. Lydia Woolley, who's leading the campaign – dubbed Project Tangaroa – described the danger posed by wrecks like the Cassandra. She said: 'Potentially polluting wrecks pose a great global threat to coastal communities and marine ecosystems. Left unmanaged, they could result in the destruction of vital fishing grounds and coastal tourism. 'This would have devastating effects on the marine environment, human health and wellbeing, as well as local and regional economies.' Marcus Runeson, a Swedish diver who's been down to the wreck of the Cassandra, said he witnessed oil floating up from the ship. He said: 'When we were on top of the wreck site, there were oil droplets coming up to the surface quite rapidly. We could see a new droplet coming up to the surface, maybe every 15 seconds.' And oil isn't the only risk. Marcus said the ship was equipped with a number of paravanes – a device that extends outwards from the vessel, intended to snag mines. These contain several hundred kilos of mercury. 'From oil leakage to mercury, it's a totally different story in terms of how dangerous it is and the environmental consequences from it,' he added. Hoping to spur governments into action, Project Tangaroa has now published The Malta Manifesto. It warns: 'We are entering a decade of severely heightened risk of catastrophic damage caused by oil from these wrecks – damage to natural and cultural heritage that cannot be fully remedied. The harm to human wellbeing and the economic cost will also be enormous.' Leading the expedition will be the Salvage and Maritime Operations (SALMO) team at the Ministry of Defence. SALMO boss Matt Skelhorn said: 'With the survey of the Cassandra, we're already putting into action the proof of concept for the Malta Manifesto. We look forward to sharing the survey outputs in due course, which will inform how we continue to work with the Estonian government to take action to prevent oil leakage if required. 'Cassandra has the potential to become a blueprint for future international collaboration when it comes to addressing the risks caused by potentially polluting wrecks.' Mark Spalding, president of The Ocean Foundation, said: 'We have thousands of environmental time bombs ticking on our ocean floor, with billions in remediation costs and no dedicated funding mechanism. More Trending 'The bureaucratic luxury of slow responses doesn't match the environmental urgency – we need a Finance Task Force with the authority to act before 2039.' HMS Cassandra, a C-class cruiser, was lost with 11 of her crew on December 5, 1918. Today, she lies on her starboard side at a depth of roughly 95 metres, with 20 metres of her bow shorn off. Mr Runeson said she was otherwise preserved in excellent condition, with the advance of rust slowed by her oxygen-free environment. Yet she would not last indefinitely, he warned. He said: 'Sooner or later, the Cassandra will rust up totally. Sooner or later, we have to deal with it, definitely.' Get in touch with our news team by emailing us at webnews@ For more stories like this, check our news page. MORE: UK must prepare for 'wartime scenario' on home soil, security review warns MORE: Brits 'won't be taxed' to pay for latest defence spending boost worth billions MORE: The UK is 'sleepwalking into a bloody ambush and may not be around in 2034'
Edinburgh Reporter
an hour ago
- Politics
- Edinburgh Reporter
Marking Armed Forces Day in Edinburgh
In Edinburgh, a parade led by The Highland and Lowland Bands of The Royal Regiment of Scotland marched along George Street on Saturday morning, stopping at a saluting dais at the Assembly Rooms before assembling in St Andrew Square to mark Armed Forces Day. Armed Forces Day is always held on the last Saturday of June and is an annual opportunity to show support and gratitude for the Armed Forces community, including serving personnel, veterans, reservists, cadets, and their families. A selection of WWII vehicles, including some tracked tanks, also processed along George Street with the bands and veterans. The British Army in Scotland includes The Royal Scots Dragoon Guards at Leuchars Station, the 39 Engineer Regiment at Kinloss Barracks, and The Royal Regiment of Scotland at Fort George, representing a diverse range of combat and support capabilities. The government said that its Strategic Defence Review emphasises the importance of Scotland's industrial base. At Rosyth, Babcock is constructing the Royal Navy's new fleet of five Type 31 frigates, a multi-billion-pound programme supporting hundreds of skilled jobs and sustaining a world-class shipbuilding industry. This Armed Forces Week, 8,200 members of the UK Armed Forces will be deployed overseas, serving on 52 operations in 38 countries. Hundreds more personnel are working to protect our skies, shores and seas at home. Secretary of State for Scotland Ian Murray said:'I'm immensely proud of all our Scots servicemen and women and I'd like to thank them for the extraordinary work they do to keep us safe all day, every day in the UK and around the world. National security is a UK Government priority and we will always stand up for our military. I look forward to the whole country uniting for today's Armed Forces Day to show our support for currently serving troops, service families, veterans and cadets.' This year, the town of Cleethorpes in Lincolnshire will host the Armed Forces Day national event and is expected to welcome 200,000 visitors to the celebrations this weekend. The Ministry of Defence has also announced that the bidding process for next year's Armed Forces Day national event will open next week, on Tuesday 1 July. Local authorities can apply for up to £50,000 in funding to host the official Armed Forces Day national event. This follows the government's decision to bring back the Armed Forces Day national event for the first time since 2023. The winning town or city will also receive support from the Ministry of Defence such as military musicians, air displays and flypasts. © 2025 Martin McAdam © 2025 Martin McAdam © 2025 Martin McAdam © 2025 Martin McAdam © 2025 Martin McAdam © 2025 Martin McAdam © 2025 Martin McAdam © 2025 Martin McAdam © 2025 Martin McAdam © 2025 Martin McAdam © 2025 Martin McAdam © 2025 Martin McAdam © 2025 Martin McAdam © 2025 Martin McAdam © 2025 Martin McAdam © 2025 Martin McAdam © 2025 Martin McAdam © 2025 Martin McAdam © 2025 Martin McAdam Like this: Like Related
News18
an hour ago
- Politics
- News18
Dependable Or Not? Lt Gen Khandare On Chinese Military Equipment At CNN-News18 Townhall
Last Updated: The official questioned the dependability of Chinese military equipment and asked if they are tested in combat. Lt General Vinod G Khandare, former Principal Adviser to the Ministry of Defence, hinted at CNN-News18 Defence Townhall that the Chinese military equipment may not be dependable in a real combat situation. Citing the instance of missiles provided to Pakistan by China, Khandare questioned if those were tested in combat. 'You look at what has happened to the Chinese missile PL-15. Where was it tested in combat? You look at JF-17, which was given to Pakistan. Where was it tested in combat? Once we are able to do reverse engineering, we will get to know if there was a defect there. So many generals are being sacked in China for corruption. You have heard that in the missile, instead of fuel, there is water. If that is the weapon system, if somebody is going to give, say from China to Pakistan, that is going to make our job easier," he said. More to follow…
Time of India
4 hours ago
- Politics
- Time of India
Qatar issues safety advisory after Iran's missile attack, urges residents to report any suspicious debris
This screen grab from AFPTV footage shows the remnants of an Iranian missile intercepted over Qatar on Monday, targeting the Al Udeid US Air Base. In the aftermath of a now-concluded military confrontation involving Iran, the United States, and Israel, the State of Qatar has issued a public safety alert, urging residents and citizens to report any suspicious debris possibly linked to a recent missile interception. The alert follows Iran's missile launch targeting the Al Udeid US Air Base in Qatar on Monday. In a joint statement, Qatar's Ministry of Defence and Ministry of Interior called on the public to exercise caution if they encounter unusual fragments or objects. The ministries stressed that any such material must not be touched or moved, citing the potential danger of hazardous substances. 'Handling such materials must be done exclusively by the competent authorities, due to the possibility that they may contain hazardous substances that could pose a threat to public safety,' the statement emphasized. The advisory comes in the wake of a missile attack by Iran, launched in retaliation for US strikes on several of Iran's nuclear sites during the recent 12-day conflict involving Israel and Iran. Former US President Donald Trump confirmed that 14 Iranian missiles were fired at the Al Udeid Air Base during the attack. According to Trump, 13 of those missiles were intercepted, and one was intentionally allowed to fall harmlessly to avoid unnecessary escalation. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Giao dịch CFD với công nghệ và tốc độ tốt hơn IC Markets Đăng ký Undo 'It was a very weak response,' Trump said, downplaying the impact of Iran's actions. In response to the missile launch, Qatar swiftly summoned the Iranian ambassador to lodge a formal protest. The Qatari government condemned the attack and reiterated its commitment to national sovereignty and the safety of its residents. The joint government statement also instructed the public to immediately report any unusual objects or fragments to authorities 'so that they may be dealt with in accordance with approved procedures.' Qatari authorities clarified that this is strictly a public safety matter and urged citizens not to panic but to remain vigilant. The potential risk stems from missile debris possibly falling in or around civilian areas due to the mid-air interceptions. In a gesture acknowledging the disruption caused by the attack, Qatar also announced the waiver of all traffic violations recorded on the day of the missile strike. This move is intended to alleviate additional stress for motorists affected during the event.
Arab Times
6 hours ago
- Politics
- Arab Times
Qatar Calls On Residents To Report Missile Debris
DOHA, June 28: In the wake of an Iranian missile attack targeting the U.S. air base at Al Udeid, Qatar's Ministry of Defence and Ministry of Interior have issued a joint public safety advisory urging citizens and residents to report any unusual debris or suspicious objects that may be linked to the intercepted missiles. The missile strike, carried out by Iran on Monday, came in retaliation for U.S. airstrikes on multiple Iranian nuclear facilities amid the ongoing 12-day conflict between Iran and Israel. According to U.S. President Donald Trump, Iran launched 14 missiles toward Al Udeid Air Base. Of those, 13 were intercepted, and one was allowed to land without causing damage — a move Trump described as 'a very weak response.' In response to the escalation, Qatar summoned the Iranian ambassador and strongly condemned the missile attack. The Gulf nation reiterated its stance on the importance of regional stability and the protection of civilians. Authorities have cautioned the public against touching or approaching any foreign objects they may come across and urged immediate reporting to relevant authorities. 'These items must be handled exclusively by specialized units, as they may contain hazardous materials posing significant risks to public safety,' the advisory stated. As a gesture of leniency amid the day's chaos, Qatari authorities also announced the cancellation of all traffic fines issued on the day of the missile strike.
