Denmark has temporarily closed one of the world’s busiest shipping lanes due to an activated but malfunctioning missile launcher aboard a Danish navy ship. The Niels Juel vessel, stationed in Denmark’s Great Belt strait, experienced an unexpected booster activation during a routine test. Unfortunately, efforts to deactivate the launcher have thus far been unsuccessful, prompting authorities to take precautionary measures.

The Danish armed forces have alerted specialists to address the issue, emphasizing the potential risk posed by the activated booster. Concerns extend to a radius of 5-7 kilometers from Naval Station Korsør, with the missile’s trajectory expected to reach heights of approximately 1000 meters above the water, primarily in a southern direction. Notably, the missile’s path does not pose a threat to the Great Belt Bridge.

In response to the situation, airspace in the vicinity has been closed, and maritime authorities have notified ships to avoid the affected area until the matter is resolved. While the Harpoon missile’s booster activation is cause for concern, officials clarify that the missile itself poses no immediate danger of explosion or extended range beyond the booster’s capacity.

Both the police and Danish maritime authorities have been briefed on the situation, ensuring coordinated efforts to manage the maritime disruption effectively. As specialists work to rectify the malfunction, safety protocols remain in place to safeguard maritime traffic traversing the Great Belt strait.