WS B-1. Beneath the Waves: Confronting unexploded ordnance

Moderator:

• Jella Kandziora,  Science-Policy Advisor at JPI Oceans

Speaker:

• Agnieszka Jędruch, IO PAN, Poland

• Emilio Fortunato Campana, National Research Council, Italy 

• Jens Greinert, GEOMAR Helmholtz Centre For Ocean Research Kiel, Germany

• Claus Böttcher, Coordinator of the JPI-Oceans Knowledge Hub Munition in the Sea, Germany

• Jella Kandziora, Science-Policy Advisor at JPI Oceans, Belgium

• Christos Economou, DG Mare, European Commission

The workshop will address the pressing issue of unexploded ordnance (UXO), spotlighting the substantial contributions of the JPI Oceans Knowledge Hub on munition in the sea and EU-funded endeavors like BASTA and ExploTECH. A highlight of the session will be the launch of a new web portal that bundles key information and best practices to guide policy-making and operational endeavors concerning underwater munitions. Interactive discussions will encompass the environmental and safety ramifications of UXOs, as well as strides in technological innovations for their detection and eradication, while also exploring strategies for protecting marine ecosystem health in munition-affected areas. Moreover, deliberations will broaden to encompass recent contextual shifts, including safety concerns amid geopolitical tensions but also recent national investments in munitions research, innovation, and recovery efforts.