Danger from debris

Missile launcher defective: Denmark closes strait

The warning concerned an area about four kilometers south of the Great Belt Bridge (pictured), which crosses the strait.

(Bild: APA/AFP/Ritzau Scanpix/Thomas Traasdahl)

Due to a defective missile launcher on a Danish warship, air and ship traffic in the Great Belt, a strait between the Danish islands of Funen and Zealand, had to be closed on Thursday.

The National Maritime Administration warned of falling missile debris and called on ships not to sail through the area and to anchor if necessary. The Danish military explained that the problem with the missile launcher had occurred during a mandatory test.

Anaval exercise is taking place in the area
The launcher had been activated and could then no longer be deactivated. "Until the missile launcher is deactivated, there is a risk that the missile will be fired and can still fly several kilometers," the statement said. A naval maneuver was currently underway in the region. 

What is the Great Belt?

The Great Belt is a strait, the most important sea access to the Baltic Sea and one of the busiest shipping lanes in the world. It is around 20 to 30 kilometers wide and lies between the Danish islands of Funen and Zealand.

The warning concerned an area about four kilometers south of the Great Belt Bridge, which crosses the strait and is one of the largest in the world. The bridge remains open to traffic, the operator explained.

Around half of the shipping traffic between the Baltic Sea and the Kattegat - the connection to the North Sea - passes through the Great Belt. The ferry routes between Kiel and Oslo or Gothenburg also pass through here.