Regional flagship projects supporting a sustainable blue economy in EU sea basins - submerged munitions in the Baltic Sea

The project is expected to achieve the following impacts to the maximum extent possible in line with the proposed activities:

• Provide a comprehensive and up-to-date picture of the state of play on submerged munitions in the Baltic Sea.
• Facilitate conducting risk assessments, where necessary, based on coherent and common factors.
• Provide the relevant elements (e.g. criteria) needed to choose the most appropriate mitigation actions.
• Stronger, structured and stable coordination and collaboration on submerged munitions, e.g. through a framework/forum bringing together Member State authorities, public and private sector bodies, investors, and citizens.
• A more coherent approach across the Baltic Sea to tackling submerged munitions.
• An acceleration in the mitigation of dumped munitions in the Baltic Sea thanks to campaigns involving the public and private sectors, investors and citizens.
• A high level of open and transparent information sharing across Member States on submerged munitions from civil and military sources, contributing to greater safety and more effective tackling of the issues.
• Greater awareness and increased capacity of Member State authorities on the impacts of submerged munitions and how to measure and monitor these impacts.
• Increased capacity in private entities to contribute to Baltic Sea Region collaboration and activities to mitigate underwater munitions.
• Greater capacity in other sea basins to tackle submerged munitions building on knowledge, capacity and lessons learned in the Baltic Sea and allowing the replication of results in other sea basins, particularly in the Black Sea.

This call for proposals and topic aim at preparing the ground for concrete actions to mitigate the threat to human health and safety, the environment and to the development of a sustainable blue economy posed by the presence of submerged munitions in the Baltic Sea.

It seeks to foster cooperation among the Baltic Sea Member States, as well as neighbouring countries cooperating with the EU Strategy for the Baltic Sea Region, between the public and private sectors, including investors, as well as civil and military entities, to identify and gather the data necessary to establish a list of priorities and conduct relevant risk assessments. This work will facilitate the exchange of best practices across different stakeholders and sea-basins and contribute to awareness raising.

This topic focuses on:

• Gathering and analysing existing, available data from all relevant sources and databases on submerged munitions^[1] including identification of gaps in the data. This should cover, for example, data on possible impacts on nature and the environment, maritime activities and the public to inform the establishment of priorities in tackling submerged munitions and for the conduct of risk assessments.
• Filling gaps, including by deploying systems at sea to collect and gather additional data that are needed for the establishment of priorities, including the use of cutting-edge technologies.
• Identifying and proposing a list of relevant factors for the establishment of priority sites where submerged munitions should be addressed (e.g., the state of corrosion of the munitions, the intention to install new wind farms, the risks linked to the marine environment).
• Encouraging data sharing and best practice sharing among relevant entities in the Baltic Sea region dealing with the issue of submerged munitions.
• Awareness raising on the risks and impacts of submerged munitions dumped at sea

Proposals should cover all of the above themes.

Projects should carry out as many as possible of the following activities (NB: this list is non-exhaustive):

Gap analysis

• Identifying the relevant sources of data (e.g. maps and databases) on submerged munitions in the Baltic Sea to create an inventory of data sources and types.
• Perform analysis of the main existing maps and databases, including to identify gaps in the existing information.
• Identify conflicting/contradictory information in existing databases and maps and attempt to reconcile any such contradictions.

Data collection

• Plan and carry out activities to collect missing data, as identified in the gap analysis.
• Compile new and existing data in a streamlined way that avoids duplication or proliferation, e.g. by building on and up-dating a relevant existing database.

Criteria and recommendations

• Based on the data collection and analysis, determine the most relevant criteria to establish priority areas of intervention and to assess risks and determine the best techniques to deal with submerged munitions.
• Propose concrete actions for intervention in the priority areas identified.
• Develop a risk-based strategy to support national authorities/investors for their decision-making processes.
• Activities to identify and promote best practices for monitoring submerged munitions and their impacts, responses to munition encounters and interventions to deal with these munitions.

Enhancing coordination

• Activities to encourage and establish a framework for the sharing of data on munitions in the Baltic Sea, and coordination and collaboration on monitoring and removing submerged munitions, building on the existing Baltic Sea cooperation.
• Develop knowledge sharing and capacity building initiatives between Member State authorities on monitoring submerged munitions, their impacts on human and ocean health, on the marine environment, and on the maritime economy, as well as on remediating submerged munitions.
• Support capacity building for private entities that may encounter underwater munitions in carrying out their economic activities at sea.
• Sharing best practices on dealing with underwater submerged munitions and putting in place mechanisms to transfer knowledge and methods to other EU sea basins, notably the Black Sea.

Awareness raising

Raising awareness among Member State authorities, public and private bodies, investors and citizens, on the issues and impacts of munitions in the Baltic Sea, as well as best practices in responses to munition encounters.

[1] For example, including data from HELCOM and national military organisations.