After WW2 enormous amounts of then surplus ammunition were simply discharged into the sea.

In the German parts of the Baltic and North Sea alone there are an estimated 1,6 million tons of ammunition plus 5,000 tons of chemical weapons. More than 75 years later they continue to be a hazard e.g. to fishery. Yet even more concerning is that due to massive corrosion large amounts of toxic substances may soon be released into the water.

Germany has therefore funded initial tests for automateddiscovery and retrieval in the Baltic Sea. Eggers Kampfmittelbergung, one of the specialized companies contracted, have sent their 2024-built Eurocarrier 2409 DÜNE and the jack-up barge HELGOLAND for the work. They were spotted at Kiel Aug 7th.

Source:  Maasmond Maritime        Photo : Martin Lochte-Holtgreven ©