Sea conditions threaten U-boat ceremony
(Story dated: May 16, 2003)

A German man wishing to pay his respects to his uncle, who died in a German U-boat in 1944, has arrived in Orkney - although there is still some doubt as to whether his planned trip out to the wreck of U297 will take place.

The emotional ceremony is due to be held over the wreck of the submarine, off the west coast of Orkney at the weekend.

Mr Thomas Bergmeier, the nephew of the U-297's captain, wants to pay his respects to his uncle and the other 50 crew who went down with the submarine when it was sunk in a depth charge attack launched by a Sunderland flying boat in December 1944.

Stromness diver, Mr Ian Trumpess, who along with wreck researcher, Mr Kevin Heath, discovered the location of the U-297 - 16 miles off Hoy Sound - three years ago, will take Mr Bergmeier out to the wreck site on Saturday, where he's expected to lay a wreath in memory of the submarine crew.

But doubts remain today about the trip taking place at all because of the expected sea conditions at the weekend.

Archive story: Local divers find U-boat wreck