Rusting danger: 1.6 million tons of ammunition threaten the North and Baltic Seas!

Rusting danger: 1.6 million tons of ammunition threaten the North and Baltic Seas!

There are an estimated 1.6 million tons of conventional war munitions lying at the bottom of the German North and Baltic Seas, making the situation explosive but not hopeless. As the Borken newspaper reported, the entire German Baltic Sea is considered to be contaminated with munitions, which geologist Jens Greinert from the Kiel Helmholtz Center for Ocean Research (Geomar) confirmed. The hotspots for the dangerous ammunition come from the dumping areas designated by the Allies after the Second World War, and shells, torpedoes, bombs and mines have been rusting there for 80 years.

The problem is serious: these munitions release cancer-causing explosives such as TNT. Experts from 16 countries recently met at the “Ammunition Clearance Week” conference in Kiel to discuss the removal of warfare agents from the sea. The protection of critical infrastructure in the North and Baltic Seas was also a central topic. The Kiel shipyard TKMS plans to present a floating disposal platform for old ammunition waste.

Salvage starts in summer

The federal government has launched an emergency program to recover old munitions with a budget of 100 million euros, which shows that the matter is being taken seriously. In September, three salvage companies are scheduled to begin salvaging World War munitions in the Bay of Lübeck on behalf of the Federal Environment Ministry. Information available to the German Press Agency suggests that the rescue will not begin until summer at the earliest, although the exact start time is still unknown Euwid Recycling reported.

Ultimately, the pilot phase, which focuses on the Bights of Lübeck and Mecklenburg, is expected to last around six months. Precise scientific criteria were used to select the locations for the test recoveries. Before the rescue begins, information events are also planned for the population in order to create transparency.

A look into the future

Jens Greinert has expressed hopes that German Baltic Sea waters could be free of munitions by the end of the 2040s, although sufficient financial resources are required. Salvaging not only presents opportunities, but also risks; Scientists have detected explosives near known deposits in water and in fish. Jennifer Strehse from the Kiel Institute for Toxicology and Pharmacology reported that traces of TNT could be detected, but that they were present in low concentrations. There are currently no health risks to humans from consuming contaminated fish, although the risk could increase if pollutants continue to enter the sea.

The next steps are clear and preparations are in full swing. If everything goes according to plan, a lot could change in the coming years. It is becoming increasingly clear that there is not only the will, but also the necessary know-how to tackle the legacy of ammunition in the sea.