When I conversed with Guldin in December, following the completion of the pilot’s first phase, he outlined a visionary concept of what this initiative could evolve into in the near future. Robotic crawlers fitted with cameras, strong lights, sonar, and improved grabbing mechanisms could potentially collect munitions more effectively than the crane systems currently in use, all while operating continuously. Utilizing remote vehicles, multiple approaches to dumping sites could also be achieved simultaneously, a feat unfeasible with the fixed platforms above water. Moreover, munitions specialists—skilled laborers in short supply—might be able to supervise most tasks remotely from offices in Hamburg, thereby eliminating the need for lengthy stays at sea.
Although this scenario may still be somewhat distant, the initial tests yielded promising results, notwithstanding certain challenges—like limited underwater visibility and insufficient lighting, which complicated remote operations via live feeds. “There is certainly room for enhancement, but the core concept is functioning reasonably well, and the capability to identify and store items underwater directly into transport crates is operating as intended,” asserts Wolfgang Sichermann, a naval architect spearheading the project for Germany’s environment ministry. The aspiration is to begin the design and eventual construction of the floating disposal facility soon, aiming to start incinerating explosives by around 2026, shares Sichermann.
Hands Off?
During my visit to the SeaTerra barge on a brisk yet sunny day last October, I engaged with Michael Scheffler, a seasoned munitions-disposal specialist who had spent a month on the platform in Haffkrug, near the German coast, meticulously opening heavy, muddy crates filled with 20-mm cannon rounds produced during Nazi Germany. By that morning, they had already inspected approximately 5.8 tons of 20-mm rounds retrieved from the seabed using mechanical grabbers and underwater robots, subsequently brought aboard the platform.
Having dedicated decades to munitions disposal, a career he began while in the German military, Scheffler had never fully comprehended the magnitude of the munitions dumping crisis—nor had he envisioned tackling the issue in a methodical manner.
“I have worked in this field for 42 years, and this is the first opportunity I’ve had to be a part of such a project,” he expressed. “The development and research taking place in this pilot initiative is invaluable for the future.”
Guldin, equally optimistic about the pilot’s outcomes, cautions that there are still limits to how much can be accomplished remotely using technology. Certain challenging, hazardous, and delicate tasks will occasionally require hands-on human intervention, at least for the foreseeable future. “There are boundaries to conducting entirely remote clearance operations on the seafloor. Undoubtedly, divers and explosive ordnance disposal specialists on-site will remain essential—there’s no doubt about that.”
Should the initial cleanup prove effective, there is hope that the technology will attract interest beyond just the Baltic region. Up until the late 1970s, many military forces worldwide utilized the oceans as dumping sites for outdated munitions.
However, as there is minimal profit in incinerating aged aerial bombs, any surge in underwater munitions disposal would rely on substantial investments in environmental remediation, which are infrequent. “We could certainly accelerate the process and enhance efficiency,” Guldin acknowledges. “The caveat is that increasing resources for this endeavor means someone must foot the bill. I am honestly doubtful about having a government in the future willing to provide those funds.”
“Just two weeks ago, I spoke with the ambassador of the Bahamas,” recounts Sichermann. “He mentioned, ‘We would greatly welcome your assistance in cleaning up everything the British disposed of in the ‘70s, just before the Bahamas gained independence.’ However, they expect financing, not just technological support. Thus, it’s crucial to identify who is prepared to provide the necessary funding.” Nonetheless, if the right financial partners are found, extensive opportunities for work await globally, according to Sichermann. “The issue of abandoned munitions is certainly ample.”
