In the shallow waters of Lévrier Bay, located north of Mauritania, over 300 abandoned ships lie rusting, with no owner or operator having claimed them since the 1980s. These wrecks are not the result of a single disaster or a storm, but of a repeated, methodical process of ship abandonment. Just a few nautical miles from the Nouadhibou autonomous port and nearby residences, this phenomenon has grown in a near-total legal vacuum. A lack of strict regulations, combined with local suspicions of corruption, has allowed this activity to continue with little oversight. A technical study from 2002 by the DYTA office estimated 107 wrecks in the bay, 57 of which posed a danger to maritime navigation. By 2022, that number had grown to around 300, including cargo ships, trawlers, and factory ships, some visible on the surface and others half-buried in sand. The bay's natural protection, which shields it from strong winds and currents, has made it an ideal refuge for ships in distress. In the 1980s, scrapping a ship was costly and required compliance with environmental standards and skilled labor. To avoid these expenses, some operators found a cheaper alternative: paying a small fee to run their ship aground in the bay rather than properly dismantling it. This practice has continued over the years, turning the bay into a de facto dumping ground for decommissioned vessels. Despite the environmental damage, the presence of these wrecks has created an unexpected ecological benefit. Marine biologists note that each abandoned ship becomes a habitat for marine life, attracting fish and supporting local fishing communities. However, the presence of hydrocarbons, heavy metals, and toxic paints from the ships has degraded the surrounding marine environment. This pollution threatens the region’s biodiversity and the livelihoods of local fishermen, who depend on the bay's rich fish resources. Studies have shown that the slow release of pollutants from these wrecks, along with overfishing, is a major cause of declining fish stocks in the area. In response to the environmental concerns, the European Union funded a project to remove 74 wrecks from Lévrier Bay, with a budget of nearly 27 million euros. The Dutch company Mammoet Salvage was selected for its expertise in salvage and environmental protection. By May 2012, 57 wrecks had been removed, ahead of schedule. However, this effort only addressed a fraction of the total problem, and new wrecks have continued to fill the space left behind. Today, cleanup efforts continue, with heavy machinery used to dismantle the ships. Yet, the process remains delicate due to the risks of pollution from fuel and toxic paints. While the bay is gradually clearing, the cycle of abandonment continues, highlighting a system where the cost of responsible maritime practices remains higher for many operators than the cost of simply abandoning their ships.