The EU is working on a strategy for removing unexploded ordnance from the seas
On February 12, 2026, a special expert session was held at the European Commission in Brussels on the development of an EU strategy for the removal of unexploded ordnance (UXO) under the European Ocean Pact.
Unexploded ordnance and sunken ammunition on the seabed are not only a safety issue—they also pose a serious environmental, infrastructural, and planning challenge.
During the meeting, Dr. Anita Künitzer from the Umweltbundesamt - German Environment Agency (Baltwreck project partner) presented the results of the thematically similar MUNIMAP project on the legal aspects of marine ammunition management in the Baltic Sea region.
The process of developing a common EU strategy confirms that the issue of munitions and hazardous underwater objects is becoming one of the key elements of European maritime policy, also in the context of activities carried out in the Baltic Sea region.
Brainstorming for the BALTWRECK project
On Friday, a meeting devoted to BIOTA in the area of the Stuttgart wreck was held at the Institute of Fluid-Flow Machinery of the Polish Academy of Sciences.
It was an opportunity to discuss ways of neutralizing threats to the marine environment.
The meeting once again emphasized the importance of developing procedures for the collection, safe storage, and disposal of petroleum substances released into the marine environment.
BALTWRECK project meeting
Today, a meeting devoted to communication issues in the project was held at the Institute of Fluid-Flow Machinery of the Polish Academy of Sciences. It was an opportunity to discuss ways of conducting information and promotional activities and optimizing the coordination of cooperation between consortium partners.
During the meeting, we discussed, among other things
enhancing the visibility of project results
regular exchange of promotional materials
planning joint activities
An important element of the discussion was also the organization and agreement of the calendar of events and project conferences planned for 2026, which will allow for more efficient organization of activities and participation of partners in upcoming initiatives.
We are working together to make the results of the BALTWRECK project even more visible and reach a wider audience.
Consultations on the European Ocean Act
The BaltWreck project consortium took part in consultations on the European Ocean Act, sharing its experience from research on shipwrecks and submerged ammunition in the Baltic Sea. Participation in this process is crucial, as thousands of wrecks and dumps of conventional and chemical weapons remain in the region. Due to progressing corrosion, they are becoming an increasingly serious source of pollution and a threat to human safety, ecosystems, and the development of the maritime economy.
The project’s assumptions and activities show that an effective EU maritime policy must combine scientific research, innovative remediation technologies, maritime spatial planning, and the engagement of local communities. The submitted comments highlight the need for systematic mapping of wrecks and ammunition, harmonisation of risk assessment methods, and treating these hazards as real constraints in planning offshore renewable energy, infrastructure, and protected areas.
Through participation in the consultations, BaltWreck partners have the opportunity to translate the project’s results into future EU regulations, helping to better protect the Baltic Sea from fuel leaks and toxic substances, while supporting the sustainable development of the region.
The BaltWreck project consortium participated in consultations on the European Ocean Act, sharing its experience from research on wrecks and sunken ammunition in the Baltic Sea. Participation in this process is crucial, as there are thousands of wrecks and conventional and chemical weapons dumps in the region, which, together with corrosion, are becoming an increasingly serious source of pollution and a threat to human safety, ecosystems, and the development of the maritime economy.
The project's objectives and activities show that an effective EU maritime policy must combine scientific research, innovative remediation technologies, maritime spatial planning, and the involvement of local communities. The comments submitted emphasize the need for systematic mapping of wrecks and ammunition, harmonization of risk assessment methods, and treating these threats as real constraints when planning marine renewable energy, infrastructure, and protected areas.
By participating in the consultations, the BaltWreck partners have the opportunity to translate the project's results into future EU regulations to better protect the Baltic Sea from fuel and toxic spills while supporting the sustainable development of the region.
Konsorcjum projektu BaltWreck wzięło udział w konsultacjach nad Europejskim Aktem Oceanicznym (The European Ocean Act), dzieląc się doświadczeniem z badań nad wrakami i zatopioną amunicją w Morzu Bałtyckim. Udział w tym procesie jest kluczowy, ponieważ w regionie zalegają tysiące wraków i składowisk broni konwencjonalnej oraz chemicznej, które wraz z korozją stają się coraz poważniejszym źródłem zanieczyszczeń i zagrożeniem dla bezpieczeństwa ludzi, ekosystemów oraz rozwoju gospodarki morskiej.
Założenia oraz działania projektu pokazują, że skuteczna polityka morska UE musi łączyć badania naukowe, innowacyjne technologie remediacji, planowanie przestrzenne obszarów morskich i zaangażowanie społeczności lokalnych. Wniesione uwagi podkreślają konieczność systematycznego mapowania wraków i amunicji, harmonizacji metod oceny ryzyka oraz traktowania tych zagrożeń jako realnych ograniczeń przy planowaniu morskich OZE, infrastruktury i obszarów chronionych.
Dzięki udziałowi w konsultacjach partnerzy #BaltWreck mają szansę przełożyć wyniki projektu na kształt przyszłych regulacji UE, tak aby lepiej chronić Bałtyk przed wyciekami paliw i toksycznych substancji, a jednocześnie wspierać zrównoważony rozwój regionu.
From Seafloor to Screen: One Year of Data Coming Together in BALTWRECK
Over the past year, the BALTWRECK project – Preventing massive marine waters chemical pollution from the leaking wrecks and munition/weapon dumps in the South Baltic – has taken an important step forward in turning extensive fieldwork into an accessible and usable knowledge base. A major focus of recent activities has been the systematic collection, compilation, and organization of data related to selected wrecks in the South Baltic Sea.
During dedicated research cruises in August and September 2025, led by scientists from the University of Gdańsk (UG), a wide range of complementary datasets was gathered at sea. These cruises targeted specific wreck sites and applied multiple observation and sampling techniques to capture a detailed picture of conditions around the wrecks. The collected material includes hydroacoustic survey data, such as multibeam echosounder (MBES) and acoustic camera measurements, as well as 4K video footage acquired with remotely operated vehicles (ROVs). In addition, sediment and water samples were taken from the vicinity of the wrecks, adding an essential environmental component to the data.
As the volume and diversity of project data have grown, equal attention has been given to how these datasets are managed and made available within the project. north.io’s Ocean Data Platform, TrueOcean, is being used as a central web-based platform for compiling the BALTWRECK-related data. TrueOcean functions as a unified data management and dissemination hub, bringing together the different data types generated during the cruises in a single, coherent environment.
Having these datasets compiled on a shared platform allows project partners to systematically investigate the collected information and to view it in its broader spatial and thematic context. This consolidated overview supports ongoing analysis and provides a solid foundation for planning additional research expeditions and future survey activities. With the data now accessible through a web-based platform, BALTWRECK is well positioned to build on the intensive fieldwork of the past year and to continue its coordinated research efforts in the South Baltic Sea.
Więcej o konsultacjach: