On 27–28 May 2026, project partners and stakeholders gathered in Klaipėda, Lithuania, for the BALTWRECK Mid-term Assessment & Communication Event for Project Partners and Stakeholders. The meeting marked the halfway point of the project and provided an important opportunity to review progress achieved so far, share research results, exchange knowledge, and discuss priorities for the next phase of implementation. The event brought together representatives of research institutions, environmental authorities, project partners, and other stakeholders working to address the environmental risks posed by leaking shipwrecks and underwater munitions in the Baltic Sea. Through presentations, discussions, and practical exchanges, participants assessed the project's achievements and explored future directions for strengthening the management of hazardous wrecks in the South Baltic region. The first day focused on presenting scientific findings and technical developments generated within the project. Experts shared updates on the environmental conditions around selected wreck sites, results from recent BALTWRECK expeditions, and innovative methods for detecting fuel residues and munitions using advanced technologies. Participants also learned about ongoing efforts to minimise ecological risks associated with hazardous wrecks, including the development of bioremediation-based approaches and management strategies informed by pilot studies.

Several presentations highlighted the project's growing knowledge base and decision-support capabilities. Topics included the development of tools for wreck management and prioritisation, molecular laboratory studies, and multi-biomarker ecotoxicological assessments aimed at better understanding the environmental impacts of underwater hazards. Together, these contributions demonstrated the project's interdisciplinary approach, combining environmental science, technology, risk assessment, and policy development.

The programme also included a study visit to historical military heritage sites in the Klaipėda region. Participants visited the Museum 39/45 and the Coastal Battery Memel Nord, gaining additional insight into the historical context of wartime activities in the Baltic region and their long-term environmental legacy.

The second day was dedicated to cooperation among project partners and future project activities. A workshop on project promotion, communication, and visualisation provided an opportunity to exchange experiences and strengthen outreach efforts. Partners discussed effective ways to communicate complex environmental issues to different target groups and shared good practices for increasing the visibility and impact of project results. The partner meeting that followed offered a comprehensive overview of progress across all work packages. Project partners and work package leaders reviewed achievements, presented ongoing activities, and discussed plans for the coming months. The discussions helped ensure alignment across the consortium and reinforced the collaborative approach that is central to the success of BALTWRECK.

As the project reaches its midpoint, the meeting in Klaipėda demonstrated the significant progress already achieved in improving knowledge about hazardous wrecks and underwater munitions in the Baltic Sea. At the same time, it highlighted the importance of continued international cooperation in developing practical solutions that contribute to the protection of the marine environment and the prevention of large-scale chemical pollution.

The BALTWRECK project has now reached its mid-term stage. Since the beginning of the project, partners and experts from the Baltic Sea Region have been working together to address environmental risks associated with shipwrecks and potential leaks of hazardous substances.

We present a video in which representatives of the project consortium summarize the progress achieved so far, share insights from the first phase of implementation, and outline priorities for the coming months. The interviews also highlight the importance of international cooperation in protecting the marine environment of the Baltic Sea.

In the interviews, the experts speak about: the key achievements and results of the project so far, conclusions from the first phase of project implementation, activities already completed and current priority areas, motivations and inspirations behind the project activities, expected outcomes and future goals of the project.

We invite you to watch the video:

Managing submerged munitions and their environmental impact is one of the key topics of international cooperation in Europe’s marine regions.

On 4 June 2026, the Stakeholder Dialogue Event will take place in Oostende, Belgium, organized within the REMARCO project (https://lnkd.in/dU2Q3yNr) - an initiative carried out by an international consortium of partners from the North Sea region, also cooperating with projects addressing threats related to submerged munitions and wrecks in the Baltic Sea region, including the Baltwreck project.

The event will focus on decision-making processes concerning the removal of unexploded ordnance (UXO), as well as challenges related to the protection of the marine environment. The meeting will bring together scientific experts, policymakers, and practitioners dealing with submerged munitions and the management of contaminated marine areas.
Discussions will cover, among other topics, the environmental impact of munitions, the potential consequences of remediation activities, and the search for more sustainable solutions for UXO management. In the field of research and international cooperation, the MUNIMAP and CONMAR Munition projects are also linked to these efforts.

Registration deadline: 25 May 2026
Oostende, Belgium
Registration: https://lnkd.in/dBHYwdbH

“Hidden ‘Treasures’ of the Baltic Sea” under expert scrutiny. International debate on wrecks and submerged munitions during the EUSBSR Annual Forum 2026 in Tallinn
Experts from the Baltic Sea Region discussed environmental threats hidden on the seabed

During the international EUSBSR Annual Forum 2026 in Tallinn, a panel session was held dedicated to one of the most pressing environmental challenges of the Baltic Sea Region – shipwrecks and submerged munitions lying on the seabed.

The panel “Hidden ‘Treasures’ of the BSR – Munitions and Wrecks in the Sea: Risks, Challenges and Solutions” was co-organised by partners of the BaltWreck project in cooperation with partners of European initiatives focused on marine environmental safety and mitigating risks related to hazardous objects on the Baltic seabed.

Shipwrecks and submerged munitions as a real threat to the Baltic Sea

Experts participating in the debate emphasised that historical shipwrecks and ammunition resting on the seabed of the Baltic Sea pose an increasing challenge to the natural environment, the maritime economy, and regional safety.

Progressive corrosion of wrecks may lead to the release of hazardous substances into the marine environment, affecting Baltic ecosystems and living organisms. As a result, monitoring activities, risk assessment, and the development of safe mitigation methods are becoming increasingly important.

The session was prepared in cooperation between partners of the BaltWreck, MMinE-SwEEPER, MUNIMAP, ENDURE, and MUNIRISK projects, which share the common goal of strengthening international cooperation in the field of Baltic Sea environmental protection.

International group of experts and research institutions

The debate brought together representatives of public administration, academia, and organisations engaged in environmental safety in the Baltic Sea Region:

• Nora S. Klasen - Ministerium für Wissenschaft, Kultur, Bundes- und Europaangelegenheiten
• Michał Czub - Instytut Oceanologii PAN,
• Adam Cenian - Instytut Maszyn Przepływowych im. R. Szewalskiego, Polska Akademia Nauk (IMP PAN)
• Erik Hanstein - Umweltbundesamt - German Environment Agency
• Marcin Żuchowski - Stowarzyszenie Gmin RP Euroregion Bałtyk

The session was opened by Louise Floman, while the panel was moderated by Katarzyna Fidler.

International cooperation as a key to protecting the Baltic Sea

Throughout the discussion, it was repeatedly stressed that effective response to threats posed by wrecks and submerged munitions requires close cooperation between Baltic Sea Region countries, exchange of expert knowledge, and joint development of modern environmental risk management approaches.

The debate combined a high level of substantive expertise with an accessible presentation of issues related to maritime safety and environmental protection. It also provided a space for knowledge exchange between representatives of projects implemented across different parts of the Baltic Sea Region.

The BaltWreck project supports Baltic Sea environmental safety

The BaltWreck project focuses on reducing risks associated with shipwrecks and hazardous substances lying on the seabed of the Baltic Sea. Activities implemented within the project include environmental monitoring, risk analysis, and the development of marine ecosystem protection methods.

Participation in the Tallinn conference provided an opportunity to promote project activities, strengthen international cooperation, and contribute to joint discussions on the future of environmental safety in the Baltic Sea Region.

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In the link below, you can watch a film that is an integral part of the event:
https://lnkd.in/dPXpAuak

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Photo: Jolanta Olszewska

An important phase of the fieldwork for the BALTWRECK project, carried out on board the research vessel RV ALKOR, has now been completed.

The collected data provided valuable information on the technical condition of the investigated wrecks and their potential impact on the Baltic Sea environment. The survey covered wrecks of significant environmental importance: Torpedoboat T34, Destroyer Z28, Minesweeper M14, Wreck 231123, Submarine W19, Submarine U-768, Stuttgart, Franken, Elbing IX, and Sizilien.
During the expedition, a comprehensive research programme was carried out, including:
- detailed mapping of the seabed and wreck structures
- inspections using autonomous underwater vehicles (AUVs) and remotely operated vehicles (ROVs)
- oceanographic measurements (CTD)
- collection of water, sediment, and marine organism samples
- visual documentation and geophysical measurements

An important part of the voyage also included port visits in Klaipėda and Gdynia, which provided a valuable space for exchanging experiences and discussing the monitoring and management of environmental risks related to wrecks resting on the seabed.

The attached video features footage from selected wrecks examined during the expedition.