Riskmitigation with Historical Investigation for the Identification of Unexploded Ordenance (UXO) in the German Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) of the North Sea.

The existence of explosive ordnance on the North Sea ground resulting from hostilities and impacts during and after the First and Second World War has been proofed. Ammunition discharge by military operations at sea, mining and insufficient mine clearance, dumping and military operation are possible causation scenarios for the suspicion of UXO.
For the first stage of a risk assessment of wind farm projects, it is necessary to perform the spacial hazard identification resulting from this UXO on the sea ground. Within the framework of a Desktop Study, all available information concerning these subjects are being summarised and evaluated according to the Working Guide on Explosive Ordnance Clearance on Federal Property (AH KMR).
In the first instance the competent authorities, here the Federal Maritime and Hydrographic Agency (BSH), the Naval Office of the German Armed Forces, the BLANO expert group and the Maritime Safety and Security Center are asked to provide the corresponding information.
Additionally relevant historical records and maps are examinated. The focus of the Desktop Study is the question, if there are incidents that there have been activities of mine laying and clearing or ammunition dumping, if there were mine-cleared compulsory shipping lanes as well as military operations in the investigation area of a cluster or wind farm area. In a long term perspective and in terms of an open risk communication, it would be desirable to create a geographic database to concentrate the available historic information and sources about causation scenarios.
In conclusion, existing geophysical investigations (e.g. geomagnetic measurements) must be evaluated and estimated in detail with regard to their suitability relating to statements concerning a potential explosive ordnance occurrence of UXO in the offshore clusters.
The actual intended soil intervention works for establishing the wind farms have to be presented from an UXO-specific point of view and the resulting possible risk must be assessed. If there is an explosive ordnance stock to be expected, an explosive ordnance clearance strategy has to be developed. A suitable geophysical investigation will reduce the costs and risk for the soil intervention works.

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This post was written by Daniella