Goslar Ship Salvage: Ensuring Preservation of Historical Treasures

Dutch Company Koole Contractors Wins Bid for Goslar Wreck Salvage, Prioritizes Preservation of Historical Finds

Goslar Ship Salvage: Ensuring Preservation of Historical Treasures

Over the weekend, Dagblad Suriname reported that the Dutch company Koole Contractors is likely to be awarded the contract to salvage the wreck of the German ship Goslar in the Surinam River near Paramaribo.

Kees Boender, advisor at the Ministry of Public Works, informed the editorial team of Dagblad Suriname that Koole Contractors submitted the lowest bid, around 5.6 million US dollars, among the accepted contractors. “However, an Environmental and Social Impact Assessment (ESIA) is still pending,” said Boender. “After the submission and our assessment of the contractors, Koole proposed reaching a financing agreement for the removal of the wreck, including the ESIA. If this is successful and there is acceptable financing, the government can proceed with the award. That is the current status. The phase is, therefore, that of negotiation,” Boender stated.

Dagblad Suriname also inquired about the fate of the remnants of the ship once it is fully salvaged. Boender responded, “The contractor must dispose of it in an environmentally friendly manner. It becomes their property. If Koole acquires it, it will be locally melted down into concrete steel.”

However, the question arises whether everything will be disposed of or if there will be consideration for parts of the Goslar that may have some historical value and deserve a place, for example, in a museum. Boender confirmed that this aspect is addressed in the Terms of Reference (work description of the salvage project). “For example, a bell or a nameplate. It depends on what we find. But historical items will not go to waste. On the other hand, they will probably be smaller things. But, it has been considered.”

When asked if Koole Contractors has experts to assess whether parts of the Goslar have any historical value, Mr. Boender replied, “It has our attention.”

Archaeology

Cheryl White, an archaeologist and advisor to the Directorate of Culture at the Ministry of Education, Science, and Culture, could potentially assess this. Dagblad Suriname approached her to inquire if Koole Contractors had contacted her regarding the salvage of the Goslar. White responded briefly, “Unfortunately, I have no information about this project.”

It remains unclear to what extent Koole Contractors and/or involved (government) authorities will approach expert archaeologists regarding the potential discovery of parts of the wreck with historical value.

First, the matter concerning the salvage of the Goslar with Koole Contractors must be fully negotiated before it can definitively be stated whether this Dutch company has secured the salvage job or not.

Date: 4 January 2024

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