Latest news with #BalticSea
Bloomberg
4 hours ago
- Politics
- Bloomberg
We Should All Be Biking Along the Beach
On a recent Sunday morning, I awoke jetlagged in Gdansk, a Polish seaport of 477,000 renowned for its Dutch architecture, amber trade and memorials commemorating the first shots fired of World War II. My hotel offered a few bicycles for its guests, so I grabbed one and pedaled my way along the Old Town's cobblestone streets. I admired the towering Great Armory, constructed 400 years ago to repel a potential Swedish invasion, and passed the former Lenin Shipyard, birthplace of the Solidarity movement that toppled Polish communism in the 1980s. The apartment buildings surrounding me were gradually replaced by grassy dunes, and I soon slowed to a halt. Before me, the Baltic Sea shimmered in the morning sun.
CNN
6 hours ago
- Politics
- CNN
Inside an abandoned secret nuclear missile base deep in the forests of Lithuania
RussiaFacebookTweetLink Follow A sea of birch trees and Baltic pines sways in the wind as the road goes deeper into the forest. Here in the peaceful depths of western Lithuania's Žemaitija National Park, an area of idyllic lakes, wetlands, old villages and forests 30 miles inland from the Black Sea, Soviet missile operators once waited in secret, poised for the destruction of Western Europe. Today, the once-classified complex known as Plokštinė Missile Base is the park's most-visited attraction, the Cold War Museum. In 2024, 35,000 people from all over the world came to explore this eerie underground world, including subterranean rooms, passages and a missile silo, plunging 100 feet beneath the ground. Several lines of barbed wire greet anyone arriving at the facility. Four white domes then come into view, contrasting with the green of the forest — the bunkers that once housed weapons of mass destruction. The structures stand there like parasitic mushrooms that don't belong in their surroundings. The history of the base reflects the logic of the Cold War and the nuclear arms race. Western Lithuania — at the time, part of the USSR's Lithuanian Soviet Socialist Republic — was a perfect location for storing warheads targeting NATO countries. Squaring off against Scandinavia across the Baltic Sea, Lithuania was turned into a highly militarized zone with rocket bases, military towns and garrisons. Neighboring Latvia and Estonia — also part of the USSR — suffered the same fate. The Plokštinė forest, in the middle of nowhere, offered ideal conditions for building a secret underground complex. The 4.6 square mile Plateliai Lake nearby provided water for cooling systems, the population of the surrounding villages was small, and the soft, sandy soil was easy to excavate. Prev Next Plokštinė missile base was completed in 1962 after two years of construction, involving more than 10,000 workers from all around the Soviet Union. Such an immense job didn't go unnoticed by the local population. 'People didn't know what kind of weapons were stored there, but we knew about this place,' says Aušra Brazdeikytė, a guide at the Cold War Museum. Brazdeikytė was born in a village not far from the base and spent her whole life in the area. Soldiers became a fixture of local life, and hearing heavy machinery transporting military equipment was a regular occurrence. 'We worked alongside soldiers from different Soviet republics at collective farms, but never discussed military topics,' she remembers. Asking the wrong questions could end tragically in the Soviet Union. The complex was heavily secured, with an electric fence stretching for two miles around the base. The dense forest made it even harder to reach, so the locals made no attempts to access it. All this secrecy paid off. US intelligence only discovered the base in 1978 through satellite reconnaissance. By then, the Soviets had decommissioned the facility as part of the rocket disarmament agreements between the USSR and the US. The entrance to the facility is — as it always was — through a hole in the ground. 'Please, wipe your feet,' reads a sign in Russian above the hermetically sealed door. Cleanliness is important in a workplace, especially if you work at a secret underground facility with nuclear warheads. Plokštinė missile base was an elaborate military project, an exemplary facility of its kind in the Soviet Union. Centered around an underground command center with a network of corridors, it also had four 100-foot shafts housing R-12 Dvina surface-to-surface missiles. There was even a subterranean power plant to generate energy in emergencies. After Lithuania declared independence from the Soviet Union in 1990, and the subsequent fall of the Iron Curtain, the base was completely abandoned and pillaged for its metal. Thanks to EU funding, local officials were able to create a superb museum, which opened in 2012, giving the public access to the command center, electric plant, and one silo. Walking through the dim underground maze gives you an eerie feeling — not least because it is filled with Soviet paraphernalia: statues of Lenin and Stalin, military awards, and hammer-and-sickle ceramics and flags. Visitors pass through thematic interactive halls devoted to various stages of the Cold War and learn about the propaganda produced during the second half of the turbulent 20th century. Here and there, lifelike silicon mannequins of grumpy soldiers send you to a Soviet-flavored uncanny valley. The most impressive attractions are the abandoned remains of military technology. The skeleton of the former electric plant would be an ideal background for a computer game. There's a gargantuan hall where the tank with missile fuel was stored. But the centerpiece is the silo. You will feel small and dizzy standing at the edge of the 100-foot hole into the abyss. Although missiles never left this shaft to sow destruction, there have been casualties over the years. 'A soldier fell to his death when his [safety] belt broke during a routine service check,' says Brazdeikytė, her words echoing somberly in the darkness. 'Two other soldiers died during a nitric acid spill while trying to refuel the missile,' she adds. The darkness thickens. Steps away from the four silos is the ghost town that was never named. Originally it housed around 300 soldiers and officers who worked at the missile base. Bizarrely, after the decommissioning of Plokštinė base, some administrative buildings in the town were converted into a children's summer camp. Called Žuvėdra, meaning seagull, it ran from 1979 to 1990. A bus stop right behind the entrance gate is painted with a colorful mural that shows a gnome on a mushroom holding a flower. Today, not much is left of the military town. The most compelling sight is a series of former storage hangars. Covered in mud and grass, they look like ancient pyramids lost to the forest. The juxtaposition of the somber abandoned nuclear missile base and the beautiful region surrounding it could be an allegory of modern Lithuania. The country has successfully overcome decades of Soviet occupation and turned its Cold War scars into teachable moments. Away from the base, Žemaitija National Park is one of the most gorgeous places in the Lithuania, filled with attractions. Visiting the park takes you to the heart of Samogitia — a region with rich local culture. Pagan and Christian traditions coexist here – it's thought this land was the last part of Europe to be converted to Christianity in the 15th century. Žemaičių blynai, or Samogitan pancakes, are the local food superstars — hearty potato pancakes with meat inside. Cepelinai, a potato dumpling stuffed with cottage cheese or ground meat, is another Lithuanian comfort food. And nobody leaves without sampling šaltibarščiai, a cold, pink-colored beetroot soup. The town of Plateliai, 15 minutes north of the nuclear site, is home to the Church of Apostles Peter and Paul, an awe-inspiring 18th-century wooden building. A restored manor in town is now home to a Mardi Gras Museum with distinctive wooden masks. Lake Plateliai itself is one for nature lovers, with cycling and hiking trails, waterside campsite spots and scenic restaurants next to the shore. Once, the biggest secret of Žemaitija was the Plokštinė nuclear missile base. Today, the region itself is a hidden gem of slow European travel.
Malay Mail
a day ago
- Business
- Malay Mail
Skyborn enters Preferred Supplier Agreement with Fred. Olsen Windcarrier for Gennaker offshore installation vessel
Gennaker's offshore wind turbine transportation and installation will be performed by Fred. Olsen Windcarrier (Fred Olsen). Installation of 63 offshore wind turbines during 2028 in the German Baltic Sea. Gennaker will add up to 976.5 MW to Germany's renewables capacity*. Fred. Olsen Windcarrier's installation vessel - Brave Tern ©Fred. Olsen Windcarrier HAMBURG, GERMANY - EQS Newswire - 29 July 2025 - Skyborn Renewables (Skyborn) is proud to announce an entry into the Preferred Supply Agreement (PSA) with Fred. Olsen Windcarrier for the offshore transportation and installation of the wind turbines generators for the Gennaker offshore wind farm in the Baltic Sea. The Charter Party Agreement is expected to be signed later in installation at sea of the 63 turbines is set to begin in 2028 and will be performed by Fred Olsen Windcarrier's installation vessel - Brave Tern. The selected self-elevating and self-propelled jack-up offshore wind turbine installation vessel is designed and built to align with Skyborn's commitment to excellence in safety and operations. The vessel can handle all next-generation turbines due to its unique 1,600 tonnes PSA signed on 24 July 2025 solidifies the longstanding, trusted partnership between Skyborn and Fred. Olsen Windcarrier."After last weeks' successful agreements for the wind turbines supply and their long-term service , this newly formed arrangement with Fred. Olsen Windcarrier is another step towards Gennaker becoming a reality. With Fred. Olsen Windcarrier's long lasting experience in offshore wind, Gennaker will benefit from state-of-the-art offshore installation capacity. Gennaker, our blue-print project, is the showcase of our end-to-end delivery capabilities, with standardized process to bring new offshore wind projects to life every 12 to 18 months." says Patrick Lammers, Skyborn CEO."We are extremely proud to enter the Preferred Supply Agreement (PSA) with Skyborn for the offshore transportation and installation of the wind turbines generators for the Gennaker offshore wind farm. This agreement demonstrates our long-term commitment to offshore wind and underlines the strong and trustful relationship between the companies. With our strong experience from the Baltic Sea region, we look forward to the execution of the Gennaker project together with Skyborn and all the local stakeholders and suppliers on the project" says Haakon Magne CEO at Fred. Olsen a capacity up to 976.5 MW, Gennaker is to become the largest offshore wind farm in the German Baltic Sea to date. Located approximately 15 kilometers north of the Fischland-Darß-Zingst peninsula, the project area sits within a designated priority zone for offshore wind energy in the Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania coastal sea. Skyborn secured the initial building permit for the Gennaker site in May 2019 and maintains site exclusivity for development. Once commissioned, the project will supply approximately 1 million people with green electricity. Gennaker is planned to be commissioned in press release and picture are available at: Hashtag: #Skyborn The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement. About Skyborn Renewables Skyborn is an accomplished offshore wind developer and operator with more than 20 years' experience, headquartered in Germany. The company's capabilities cover the entire offshore wind value chain, including greenfield development, project engineering and design, procurement, financing, corporate power purchase agreements, construction management and asset management. Skyborn is a portfolio company of New York based Global Infrastructure Partners (GIP), a leading infrastructure investor and part of Blackrock. For more information, visit: Follow us on LinkedIn: About Fred. Olsen Windcarrier Fred. Olsen Windcarrier offers innovative and tailored services for the transport, installation, and maintenance of offshore wind farms. The company was established in 2008 to service the growing offshore wind sector and has installed more than 1100 wind turbines offshore – which is more than 20% of all offshore wind turbines worldwide outside China. Fred. Olsen Windcarrier operates the three self-elevating jack-up vessels – Bold Tern, Brave Tern and Blue Tern. For more information, visit: Follow us on LinkedIn:
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Ashley Judd Sends Powerful Message On Aging With Bold New Trend — And It's So Liberating
Ashley Judd is done caring. The 'Double Jeopardy' actor shared a liberating video on Instagram last week, in which she spoke about being a member of the 'We Do Not Care' club. The viral club was started by influencer Melani Sanders, whom Judd credited in her post. Sanders regularly shares videos on social media that highlight what women experiencing menopause or perimenopause no longer care about. 'Hi, I'm Ashley, and I'm a member of the We Don't Care Club,' the actor said, while wearing a swimsuit in the Baltic Sea. Judd began to rattle off some of the things she didn't care about ― such as 'picking my crotch' in the video and sharing some anti-chafing tricks for wearing a swimsuit. She also showed off various moves in the water, 'because when we were little, it was really fun, and we don't care what people think of us.' She also said she'd come up with something called the 'Make Stuff Up Club,' telling followers that as a 'postmenopausal woman, I don't care if you don't like the MSU Club.' In her Instagram caption, Judd said menopause, from the 'peri - post' stage, is 'human biology.' 'It is universal to females & global. What can be a hope of We Don't Care Club? What will I, with my freedom & mirth, when I let go of caring about stupid, controlling norms about my female body, be free to enJOY? Sanders responded to Judd's post in the comments. 'Hey my WDNC Sister. Oh how I wish I could have joined you! The beach is my love language,' she wrote, adding 'This video has made my day!!' Judd first shouted out Sander's new 'club' in June and shared a little bit about her own experience with menopause in the caption. 'Post-menopausal since 2018 — and super comfortable with that,' she wrote at the time. 'I am rejoicing in @justbeingmelani un muzzling of peri/post/menopausal expression and her inviting in all kinds of women to liberate their 'I don't cares!' We are enough, we do enough, it is enough. It is okay, we are okay.' Related... Actor-Activist Ashley Judd Calls On Joe Biden To Drop Out Of Race Ashley Judd Says The Overturn Of Harvey Weinstein's 2020 Rape Conviction Is A 'Betrayal' Ashley Judd Marks 2 Years Since Mother Naomi Judd's Suicide With Powerful Message
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Ashley Judd Sends Powerful Message On Aging With Bold New Trend — And It's So Liberating
Ashley Judd is done caring. The 'Double Jeopardy' actor shared a liberating video on Instagram last week, in which she spoke about being a member of the 'We Do Not Care' club. The viral club was started by influencer Melani Sanders, whom Judd credited in her post. Sanders regularly shares videos on social media that highlight what women experiencing menopause or perimenopause no longer care about. 'Hi, I'm Ashley, and I'm a member of the We Don't Care Club,' the actor said, while wearing a swimsuit in the Baltic Sea. Judd began to rattle off some of the things she didn't care about ― such as 'picking my crotch' in the video and sharing some anti-chafing tricks for wearing a swimsuit. She also showed off various moves in the water, 'because when we were little, it was really fun, and we don't care what people think of us.' She also said she'd come up with something called the 'Make Stuff Up Club,' telling followers that as a 'postmenopausal woman, I don't care if you don't like the MSU Club.' In her Instagram caption, Judd said menopause, from the 'peri - post' stage, is 'human biology.' 'It is universal to females & global. What can be a hope of We Don't Care Club? What will I, with my freedom & mirth, when I let go of caring about stupid, controlling norms about my female body, be free to enJOY? Sanders responded to Judd's post in the comments. 'Hey my WDNC Sister. Oh how I wish I could have joined you! The beach is my love language,' she wrote, adding 'This video has made my day!!' Judd first shouted out Sander's new 'club' in June and shared a little bit about her own experience with menopause in the caption. 'Post-menopausal since 2018 — and super comfortable with that,' she wrote at the time. 'I am rejoicing in @justbeingmelani un muzzling of peri/post/menopausal expression and her inviting in all kinds of women to liberate their 'I don't cares!' We are enough, we do enough, it is enough. It is okay, we are okay.' Related... Actor-Activist Ashley Judd Calls On Joe Biden To Drop Out Of Race Ashley Judd Says The Overturn Of Harvey Weinstein's 2020 Rape Conviction Is A 'Betrayal' Ashley Judd Marks 2 Years Since Mother Naomi Judd's Suicide With Powerful Message Solve the daily Crossword
