Dangers on the seabed of the Baltic Sea
For some time now, we have been active in the field of UXO surveys (Unexploded Ordnance Survey), i.e. locating and mapping possible remnants of war under water. Using special sensor technology such as magnetometers, we detect metallic objects on the seabed that may indicate the presence of dumped munitions or other contaminated sites.
One of our missions took our team off the coast of Boltenhagen. The aim was to examine the area for magnetic anomalies – a first step towards identifying possible contaminated sites from the Second World War.
The survey trip is part of a pilot project as part of the “Immediate action program for munitions contamination in the North and Baltic Seas”. The program is funded by the Federal Ministry for the Environment, Climate Protection, Nature Conservation and Nuclear Safety (BMUKN) with 100 million euros.
Westdeutscher Rundfunk (WDR) was on site and spoke to one of our colleagues about the technical procedures and requirements of this work.
The result is part of an episode of the WDR podcast “Zeitzeichen – Der Geschichten Podcast”, which was released on July 4, 2025.
The episode sheds light on the historical background to the dumping of munitions in the Baltic Sea and highlights how topical this issue is: Large quantities of dumped ammunition and explosives are still stored on the seabed, posing a persistent threat to people, the environment and maritime infrastructure.
Our activities in the field of UXO surveys help to systematically record potential contaminated sites on the seabed. In this way, we create the basis for greater clarity and safety in sensitive maritime areas through precise surveying.
