People in the Westman Islands have found the source of one problem creating the solution to another: the sand that has blocked a harbour for the past five weeks.
The harbour of Landeyjarhöfn has been blocked from sea traffic due to an inordinate amount of sand building up on the sea bed. Most of this sand is now being dredged up by the ship Herjólfur. However, RÚV reports that rather than dumping the sand somewhere else, it is being put to good use in two ways.
Icy roads have been a nuisance in the Westman Islands for some time now, and a shortage of sand – and a blocked harbour preventing any new sand from getting there – has not made matters any better. But the sand now being dredged up from the harbour is being sold at the store Vöruval, completely at cost, store owner Ingimar Georgsson told reporters. In addition, proceeds from the sale of the sand will go to the Icelandic Maritime Administration.
Ingimar believes there is a business potential for someone in the situation, and that there has already been some talk of putting together a packing company for the sand.
As it is, he intends to continue selling the sand, and donate funds from the sales to the Icelandic Maritime Administration after the new year.
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