Russia is undertaking a major environmental initiative in its Far East, dubbed the “General Cleaning,” aimed at clearing its coastal waters of decades-old sunken vessels. According to Russia’s Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment, the immediate focus is on raising three ships by the end of the year: one in the Kamchatka region, where two have already been salvaged, and two in the Sakhalin Oblast.
The salvage operations are complex, requiring a unique plan for each vessel. Methods range from towing a wreck to shore for dismantling to a more intricate process where divers install massive inflatable pontoons inside a ship’s hull. These are then filled with air, providing the buoyancy needed to lift the multi-ton vessel to the surface. The entire process is closely monitored by a range of authorities, including the port captain, the Marine Rescue Service, and environmental watchdogs.
Extensive safety measures are central to the operations to prevent environmental contamination. Floating containment booms are deployed around each work site to trap any potential spills of oil or fuel. Once ashore, the ships are cut apart on specially prepared sites. Scrap metal is sent for recycling, while non-metallic parts and hazardous waste are transported to specialized facilities for disposal.
This cleanup is a key component of a broader federal project under the “Ecological Well-being” national plan. The long-term strategy aims to raise and dispose of 103 sunken ships between 2025 and 2030 across six territories of the Far Eastern Federal District. This ambitious effort seeks to eliminate navigational hazards and restore the marine ecosystem in a strategically vital region, tackling a legacy of maritime industrial activity.