An safety zone of one kilometer is in force around the vessel. Explosives experts from the local police are supervising security operations during the reloading.

Rescue Manger Ilpo Tolonen of the Kymenlaakso Rescue Services says poorly packed explosives will be destroyed. He believed poorly packed explosives on the vessel could have exploded in heavy seas en route to their destination causing a massive explosion if chained together.

”Even if the materials are not easily combustible, a danger could arise if the boxes were tied together with chains,” Tolonen noted.

Missiles impounded separately

A consignment of 69 Patriot missiles also found on the Manx flagged vessel was earlier taken to a Defence Forces storage facility for explosives.

The Finnish Transport Safety Agency (TraFi) will release the vessel when discovered irregularities have been corrected.

Cargo seized on Wednesday

Finnish customs officials seized the vessel with its cargo of explosives and high-tech missiles on Wednesday.

Later German officials confirmed the cargo was an official consignment of arms en route to South Korea. Although the vessel conformed to local German customs regulations, the Thor Liberty did not have the required documentation for the transit of explosives through Finland.

Finnish officials also discovered the explosives were poorly packed for their voyage.

The attention of Finnish officials was first drawn to the vessel when it requested pilot assistance in high seas off the south west coast earlier this month.