The global challenge of Unexploded Ordnance (UXO) removal

Strategic importance of the seas

Despite decades having passed since major conflicts, millions of explosive remnants remain hidden beneath seas, lakes, and riverbeds worldwide. Dumping into seas and lakes was often viewed by governments and militaries as a quick solution for surplus or obsolete weapons. However, these ageing munitions—bombs, naval mines, grenades, artillery shells, and chemical weapons—remain volatile and hazardous. As casings corrode, explosive compounds such as TNT can leak into water and sediment, threatening biodiversity and human health.

This practice has created a global underwater minefield, threatening marine ecosystems, coastal communities, and offshore industries. With high-risk regions spanning the Baltic Sea, North Sea, Black Sea, Atlantic Ocean, and Pacific waters.

As offshore wind farms, subsea cables, and marine infrastructure projects expand, the urgency for safe and environmentally responsible UXO clearance has never been greater. 

What is UXO clearance?

UXO removal refers to the process of identifying, clearing and disposing of unexploded ordnance (UXO). UXO are various explosive weapons such as bombs, shells, grenades, landmines and other munitions.  In some cases UXO were deployed and failed to detonate, and in other cases surplus or obsolete weapons were simply disposed of in lakes

Zooming in on Europe, and specifically the Netherlands, UXO can be found in waters, including Hook of Holland, IJmuiden, Eastern Scheldt and the Wadden Sea. These zones require strict environmental and operational compliance during subsea construction. In 2005, several Dutch fishermen lost their lives when a bomb exploded on deck when hauling in their nets (ANP, 2005) and in 2020 a British crabbing vessel was partly destroyed by a bomb on the seabed that was disturbed by their crabbing gear. 

In Switzerland the Government is currently exploring options for safe recovery solutions and to invest in innovative technologies to remove more than 12,000 tonnes of unused or outdated munitions in its lakes including Thun, Brienz, Lucerne, and Neuchâtel. These deep‑water sites—some exceeding 200 metres—pose unique challenges. While monitoring currently shows no major contamination, the risk of future leakage will hopefully be avoided and prompted the government to open a competition which a consortium led by IHC Defence won first place.