Debris from stranded fishing vessel Petrea concerns beachgoers in As Vig, Juelsminde

Beachgoers near Marianne Bøeg’s summer house in As Vig, Juelsminde, are encountering a troubling scene. The shoreline is strewn with various debris, including gasoline containers, trash, old wooden planks with exposed rusty nails, paint cans, and even a broken ship mast. All this waste originates from a fishing vessel, the Petrea, which has been stranded in the waters since July. Recent autumn storms have severely damaged the ship.

Bøeg had anticipated such destruction due to the storms. “We knew that with strong winds, large debris could wash ashore, and we feared the ship might break apart and wash up on the beach,” she expressed, adding concerns about the slow removal process.

She described the situation as problematic and alarming, particularly regarding potential environmental hazards as pollutants could leach into the water.

Steen Christensen, a member of the Hedensted Municipality’s Technical and Environmental Committee, acknowledged the issue, noting that the municipality was made aware of potential storm damage back in July. However, the legal authority to remove the vessel was only acquired recently.

Municipal authorities had confirmed that the ship posed no immediate pollution risk after inspections, but the responsibility for its removal rested with the owner, which became problematic. As the ship has now been classified as waste due to the damage, the municipality can act.

Local residents have started cleaning up some of the debris scattered along the beach. Bøeg hopes for a swift removal process to prevent further damage, especially before winter storms intensify. Christensen anticipates the boat will be removed within two weeks. Attempts to reach the ship’s owner for comments have been unsuccessful.