Former and ongoing related projects:
CAMMera (2025-2028) targets the final stage in the process of dealing with marine munitions: Based on previous research into detection and environmental monitoring, the project is developing industrial-scale solutions such as automated recovery of fragile objects, remote-controlled transport systems, automated disassemble technologies and security measures for the working area. It also addresses legal aspects and looks into a business model for European clearance activities, by ensuring knowledge and best practice are transferred to stakeholders covering all European seas, including the Black Sea.
MUNI-RISK (2024-2027): "Mitigation of Risks due to submerged munitions for a sustainable development of the Baltic Sea" brings together scientists and practitioners to find solutions that support safe maritime activities, such as fishing, and responsible marine resource development, including building offshore wind farms. By the end of the MUNI-RISK project, countries around the Baltic Sea will have practical tools and guidelines to safely manage munitions risks.
The MMinE-SwEEPER (2024-2028) project aims to enhance Europe’s capacity for non-military UXO clearance. It focuses on advancing technologies such as automated detection, environmental monitoring, burial and corrosion predictions, and secure data exchange. Additional efforts include compiling knowledge, addressing legal frameworks, developing training, and stakeholder outreach. Outcomes include AI-supported detection, identification, and Smart-AUV/USV integration, with technologies reaching a stage where they are tested in real-world conditions and ready for further development toward commercial use.
MUNIMAP (2024-2027) is a direct continuation of DAIMON 2 with similar partners,which will develop a modular roadmap for Baltic Sea munitions remediation. This includes policy recommendations, IT tools for site prioritisation, monitoring strategies, and innovative, cost-effective, eco-friendly remediation methods, all designed with user groups.
Pilot activities will cover key remediation stages: detection, risk assessment, prioritisation, remediation, monitoring, and result evaluation. The project supports national authorities and agencies facing legal, financial, and practical challenges in managing sea-dumped munitions while ensuring safety and environmental protection.
Pilot activities will cover key remediation stages: detection, risk assessment, prioritisation, remediation, monitoring, and result evaluation. The project supports national authorities and agencies facing legal, financial, and practical challenges in managing sea-dumped munitions while ensuring safety and environmental protection.
DAIMON 1 (2016-2019) examined in detail the Baltic underwater munitions dumping sites (both conventional and chemical) identified and mapped by the CHEMSEA and MERCW projects. On this basis tools and methods were developed to assess the risk flowing from this dangerous waste and support governments in case-to-case decision-making. Main project outcomes were the Ecotox methodology Toolbox for environmental researchers and Decision Support System (DSS) for maritime authorities.
The North Sea Wrecks project (INTERREG North Sea, 2018-2021) with its partners from Germany, Netherlands, Denmark and Norway is a sister project of DAIMON in the North Sea. NSW shall provide tools necessary for planners, response organizations, economic actors and other stakeholders to assess and propose solutions for risk mitigation regarding wrecks and munitions in the North Sea. One of the main outcomes of the project will be a travelling exhibition about underwater ammunition and wrecks.
UMBRELLA is a cluster project created to minimize redundancy among projects on dumped chemical munitions in the Baltic Sea region. Its aim is to disseminate knowledge and to promote interdisciplinary approach towards improvement of capacity for research and response regarding the threats of chemical munitions dumped in the Baltic Sea. The website promotes projects, initiatives and organizations, as well as gathers official documents, scientific and press articles, videos and events focused on dumped chemical munitions.
MODUM (2013-2016) was funded by the NATO Science for Peace and Security program and addressed the issue of monitoring of CWA dumpsites. Since these are also topics of the DAIMON project, the two projects actively cooperated, sharing expertise and results.
MODUM has also been led by the Institute for Oceanology of the Polish Academy of Sciences (IO PAN).
MODUM has also been led by the Institute for Oceanology of the Polish Academy of Sciences (IO PAN).
The CHEMSEA / Baltic Sea Region project (2011 - 2014) was dedicated to detection and mapping of the location of CWA objects in the known dumping areas, and sediment pollution (Please read the CHEMSEA FINDINGS). The focus on marine organisms was greater than in MERCW, but limited mostly to Bornholm Deep, with its specific conditions. CHEMSEA introduced the biomarker approach to observe biological effects of contamination on the health of organisms, including exposure experiments and insitu observations. Important output of CHEMSEA is the Center of Excellence for Dumped Munitions (CoEDCM) created as a hands-on transnational analytical center of CWA related hazards. The CoEDCM is also at the core of the DAIMON partnership.
MERCW (2003-2008) provided detailed information on the location of munitions, preliminary assessment of sediment pollution around the found objects, and modeled the distribution of chemical warfare agents related pollution in and around the dumping region. Some of the activities attempted to estimate the consequences of potentially leaking CWA for marine organisms, based on concentrations of CWA degradation products measured in sediments combined with fish stock data and environmental models.
Since 2007 the University of Hawai‘i at Manoa (UHM) has been awarded approximately $7.5 million to conduct the Hawai‘i Undersea Military Munitions Assessment (HUMMA). HUMMA focuses on evaluating the potential risk to human health and the environment of an historic munitions disposal site located south of Pearl Harbor in waters from 300-600 meters deep. UHM has mounted six field programs, using advanced technologies, to locate and assess the condition of munitions and their surroundings, including animals living near or on the munitions.
