Dear authors,

Several comments have been posted as feedback on your comment on the work of Sapart et al. You have already responded to most of the concerns raised. I think that the most important issue to address in a revised version of your comment is your speculation on contamination of e.g. the vessel as an explanation for the exceptionally modern 14C signatures reported by Sapart et al. Based on the comments of the referees and your replies on these comments it is clear that some nuance or rephrasing is needed to correctly transmit your point to the reader, and I invite you to submit this revised version in which you have done this for final consideration for publication.

It is unfortunate that Sapart and/or co-authors have not added to the discussion, despite being invited to do so. Nevertheless, I hope that it has become clear to everyone that a thorough report of sampling and sample handing and processing protocols should always be included in a manuscript (and why!).

Best regards,
Francien Peterse

Dear Kay Sparrow and John Kessler,

I am happy to accept your comment for publication in Biogeosciences in this revised form. I really hope that the discussion that you have started here will be continued.

Best regards,
Francien Peterse