Rostock is planning a federal competence center for ammunition recovery at sea!

Rostock is planning a federal competence center for ammunition recovery at sea!

The Baltic and North Seas are not only popular holiday destinations, but also pose a significant danger: around 1.6 million tonnes of conventional war munitions are stored in the waters. This poses a major risk to the marine environment and the people who live and work in these regions. Federal Environment Minister Carsten Schneider has stressed the importance of recovering this ammunition to prevent the release of toxic substances into the water. On July 2, 2025, the establishment of a federal competence center for ammunition recovery was discussed in Rostock, supported by Prime Minister Manuela Schwesig, who expressed her approval during Schneider's inaugural visit. Both politicians visited the Ocean Technology Campus (OTC), which is presented as a possible location for the planned center star reported.

Why is this so important? The old ammunition dumps in the Baltic Sea and North Sea are particularly problematic, as around 300,000 tons are stored in the Baltic Sea and 1.3 million tons in the North Sea. This ammunition found its way into the sea, especially after the Second World War. Tomasz Leefken, a scientist at the University of Rostock, explains that we know where the ammunition is, but often not what condition it is in. The constant movement of water and sediment leads to corrosion, which endangers not only the ammunition itself, but also the environment around it, as the Federal Environment Agency explains in a detailed report. The metal casings rust and release harmful substances such as explosive residues and heavy metals such as mercury, which can accumulate in the marine environment, although in higher concentrations near the dumping areas Federal Environment Agency.

A competence center in focus

A further step towards solving this pressing problem is the establishment of a competence cluster “Ammunition in the Sea” in Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania. On May 20, 2025, Environment Minister Dr. Till Backhaus visited the Leibniz Institute for Baltic Sea Research (IOW) in Rostock to talk about the challenges and protection of the marine environment. The exchange also focused on the complex problems associated with maritime ammunition waste.

The IOW boasts state-of-the-art research infrastructure, including research ships and laboratories, and is actively involved in ammunition recovery research projects. In collaboration with the Fraunhofer Institute, an AI-supported evaluation of microorganisms in water is even being developed to detect dangerous substances such as TNT. This innovative research can provide crucial information to take the necessary recovery measures, said the minister WWT.

The challenge remains

However, despite these positive approaches, recovering old ammunition remains a challenge. The effects of climate change and increasing nutrient pollution in the oceans accelerate the corrosion of ammunition, which further increases the risk. An immediate program to recover contaminated ammunition was launched in 2022 and three pilot projects have already been implemented in the Bay of Lübeck. A fourth pilot is imminent in the Mecklenburg Bay. These projects are important to test the approach and possible techniques for effective rescue.

Ammunition recovery is anchored in the current coalition agreement as a national task. A sustainable financial basis is necessary to keep the competence center operational in the long term. The state of Schleswig-Holstein has already offered its willingness to support and has suggested the creation of common structures to avoid duplication of work. The discussion about building a mobile disposal facility could be another important step in removing contaminated sites from the waterways.