Vocal Voices

Malaysia investigates Chinese barge suspected of links to looting of British WW2 wrecks

You might wonder why they would go about this because there is not really much worth stealing. Except for this little bit in the article.

Pictures and a video released by the agency showed a barge carrier with a large crane and heaps of rusty metal on board. Known as prewar steel, the material from the two warships is valuable and could be smelted for use in manufacturing of some scientific and medical equipment.

I read an article about this just recently. Since the first atomic bomb was detonated radioactive isotopes have contaminated steel manufactured all over the world. These isotopes cause problems with readings for the most sensitive equipment.

I read that the amount of isotope free steel was a diminishing resource and the value of it was climbing. These warships contain a vast reservoir of contamination free steel which can be very profitable.

However looting war graves is a crime and imo, should remain so.

Suff wrote:However looting war graves is a crime and imo, should remain so.

Agreed, but there must be tens of thousands of tons of steel down there and all over the oceans from warships and the merchant fleet convoys. Policing them is an almost impossible task, sadly.

Workingman wrote:Agreed, but there must be tens of thousands of tons of steel down there and all over the oceans from warships and the merchant fleet convoys. Policing them is an almost impossible task, sadly.

It is. Kudos to the Malaysian government though.

This has been going on for years. A bronze propeller can bring in thousands of dollars.

https://www.insidescience.org/news/meta ... -ii-wrecks

Absolutely dreadful!