On January 2, the 12 meter long, 19 gt fishing vessel Kulle Christoph SK30 sank in the Baltic Sea at Heikendorf, Germany. The fishing vessel had been in a bad state for some time before it sprung a leak and sunk at its berth. Reports state the vessel was owned by a local authority which was looking for a way to scrap/dispose of the vessel. There were no crew on board at the time it sank. Authorities have placed booms around the Kulle Christoph SK30 to contain the pollution. A salvage company will remove the vessel after all the necessary paperwork is completed.