The Issue
Decades of exposure to seawater have left World War-era munition shells in various stages of degradation. This degradation has resulted in the leakage of toxic and carcinogenic compounds from the munition surrounding war wrecks and dumping sites. The presence of these compounds poses risks not only of uncontrolled explosions but also of contamination in marine life, leading to health impairments and raising concerns about marine food safety. There is yet no common systematic approach to assess or to implement the monitoring and remediation measures needed to mitigate risks deriving from the munition in our seas. These hazards do not stop at borders and require a strategy of transnational dimension, moving from the North Sea Wrecks project analytic approach to remediation.
Photo: © VLIZ 2024. All rights reserved.
Our Goal
REMARCO aims to combat pollution and protect marine ecosystems by addressing the challenges posed by deteriorating World War-era munition in our oceans. Our primary objectives include enhancing the capacity of authorities through systematic risk assessment strategies and methodologies, advocating for the adoption of transnationally validated remote and automated solutions for monitoring and remediating risks, and promoting behavioral changes among stakeholders to improve policy instruments. Through collaborative efforts and strategic actions, we are committed to mitigating the environmental and health risks associated with underwater munitions and fostering a cleaner, healthier marine environment.
Photo: © Ute Marx, AWI 2024. All rights reserved.
Key Messages
Our approach is guided by four key priorities that drive our efforts and ensure impactful results:
1. The REMARCO project aims to enhance our understanding of the risks to the environment, human health, and safety by prioritizing these risks based on case studies.
This research focuses on dangerous underwater objects, such as wrecks, munitions, mines, leaking shells, and tanks, providing detailed information about their existence, location, and characteristics.
2. REMARCO disseminates project results and promotes the adoption of innovative remediation techniques to improve risk management efficiency.
Our goal is to make the North Sea a safer and cleaner environment, fostering new business opportunities and enhancing the sustainable use of natural and maritime resources.
3. REMARCO raises awareness about the challenges facing the North Sea Region (NSR) and works towards the social acceptance of mitigation measures proposed in the project's strategic outputs.
We also contribute to establishing standards for classifying and treating risks associated with wrecks, cargo, and munitions.
4. The WRECKNS Service Platform assists public authorities and blue economy companies in enhancing their capacity to manage risks related to wrecks and munitions.
By utilizing this Software as a Service (SaaS) solution, users can prioritize interventions to prevent harmful emissions without requiring upfront investments.
How we work
Partners
REMARCO works with 10 partner from science, administration and the economic sector from Belgium, Germany and the Netherlands, coordinated by the Alfred Wegener Institute in Bremerhaven, Germany.
© Karsten Seidel, Ikerconsulting 2024. All rights reserved.
To access more information about the partner institutions please click the button below to visit our partner page.
Advisory Board
REMARCO is supported by an Advisory Board with members from different fields of expertise, including administration, defence organisations and supranational bodies.
Members of the Advisory Board come from Belgium, Denmark, Germany, the Netherlands, Norway, the UK, the US and serve as external advisors.
To learn more about our Advisory Board and its members follow the button below.
Outcome
You want to inquire about our current findings and project results?
Explore comprehensive documents and valuable information regarding the outcomes of our project by following the button below.
Ongoing Projects
For an overview of ongoing related projects dealing with war-wrecks and dumped munition from the first and second World Wars check out the listed projects below.
CONMAR, funded by the German Ministry of Education and Research, aims to study the impact of marine munitions in the North and Baltic Seas. It integrates data from various sources to assess distribution, ecological impact, and potential remediation strategies. Through collaboration with stakeholders, CONMAR seeks to inform policy and advance the understanding of this environmental issue.
ProBaNNt (Professional intelligent munitions assessment using 3D reconstructions and Bayesian Neural Networks) aims to enhance decision-making in offshore explosive ordnance disposal (EOD). By integrating existing EOD data with new techniques like 3D photogrammetry, ProBannt will develop software to propose optimal clearance options using Bayesian Neural Networks.
ValidITy is a two-year project funded by the Helmholtz Impuls- und Vernetzungsfonds, aiming to enhance underwater object annotation processes. It focuses on implementing automatic data quality controls, simplifying manual inspection of hydrographic data, and training machine learning algorithms for automatic object detection. Through these efforts, ValidITy aims to modernize and improve efficiency in hydrographic data analysis.
SAM (Smart AUV-based Magnetics) develops fully autonomous systems for detecting underwater ferromagnetic objects like UXO using AUVs. It autonomously plans AUV routes based on in situ magnetic measurements, aiming for fully autonomous detection, localization, and assessment of magnetic anomalies. Applications include UXO detection, pipeline tracking, and harbor monitoring.
The MUNIMAP project establishes a framework for public authorities to collaboratively remediate dumped munitions in the Baltic Sea and Skagerrak, addressing ecological threats and maritime economic barriers. It aims to create policy recommendations, IT solutions, and innovative remediation methods through coordinated national processes.
REMARCO in the media
Coverage in international media