Rostock plans Federal Competence Center for Mounting Munition in the Sea!

Rostock plans Federal Competence Center for Mounting Munition in the Sea!

The east and North Sea are not only popular holiday destinations, but also hold a significant danger: around 1.6 million tons of conventional ammunition are stored in the waters. This is a great risk to the marine environment and the people who live and work in these regions. Federal Environment Minister Carsten Schneider emphasized the importance of rescue this ammunition in order to prevent the release of toxic substances into the water. On July 2, 2025, Rostock was advised on the foundation of a Federal Competence Center on the ammunition, supported by Prime Minister Manuela Schwesig, who expressed their approval during the inaugural visit to Schneider. Both politicians visited the Ocean Technology Campus (OTC), which presents itself as a possible location for the planned center, such as Stern reported.

Why is that so important? The ammunitional loads in the Baltic Sea and the North Sea are particularly problematic, since around 300,000 tons in the Baltic Sea and 1.3 million tons are stored in the North Sea. This ammunition found its way into the sea, especially after the Second World War. Tomasz Leefken, a scientist from the University of Rostock, explains that we know where the ammunition is, but often not in what condition it is. The constant movements of water and sediments lead to corrosion, which not only endangers ammunition itself, but also the environment around them, as the Federal Environment Agency explains in a detailed report. The metal covers rust and release harmful substances such as explosive residues and heavy metals such as mercury that can accumulate in the marine environment, however, near the sinking areas in higher concentrations, so Environmental Federal Office .

a competence center in focus

Another 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 The Leibniz Institute for Baltic Sea research (IOW) in Rostock to talk about the challenges and protection of the marine environment. The exchange also revolved around the multi -layered problems associated with maritime ammunitional loads.

The IOW scores with the latest research infrastructure, including research ships and laboratories and is actively involved in research projects for ammunition recovery. In cooperation with the Fraunhofer Institute, a AI-based evaluation of microorganisms in the water is even developed to track down dangerous substances such as TNT. This innovative research can provide crucial information in order to take the necessary measures for salvage, according to the minister The challenge remains

But despite these positive approaches, the rescue of the ammunitional loads remains a challenge. The influences of climate change and an increasing nutrient pollution in the seas accelerate the corrosion of ammunition, which further increases the risk. An immediate program for the rescue of ammunitional loads was launched in 2022 and three pilot projects in the Bay of Lübeck were already implemented. Fourth piloting is imminent in the Mecklenburg bay. These projects are important in order to test the procedure and possible techniques for effective recovery.