Hidden Beneath the Waves: The Critical Need for Professional WWII Munitions Recovery Services
Nearly eight decades after World War II ended, the ocean continues to reveal its wartime secrets. Unexploded ordnance from World War II is frequently discovered, creating an urgent demand for specialized underwater recovery services. From the Baltic Sea to Long Island’s waters, some 20–30% of the munition deployed in action at sea during the WWs did not explode and is lying on the seafloor, presenting both immediate dangers and long-term environmental threats.
The Scale of the Problem
The magnitude of underwater munitions contamination is staggering. The arduous and exacting process of removing and destroying more than 1.5 million tonnes of volatile munitions from the Baltic and North Sea basins—an area roughly the size of West Virginia—is more urgent by the day. These weapons aren’t limited to European waters; travel to the North and Baltic seas, the Marshall Islands, Puerto Rico, and even the coast off Los Angeles, and you’ll find miles of underwater munition dumping sites.
The danger is real and ongoing. In the two German seas, over 400 people—tourists, sailors, fishers, naval cadets, and munitions experts—have lost their lives to explosions from sunken weapons. Some weapons may still be armed, which could result in an explosion if a fisherman, for example, catches an errant bomb in a net.
Growing Environmental Concerns
Beyond immediate safety risks, environmental contamination is becoming increasingly critical. The many land and naval mines, U-boat torpedoes, depth charges, artillery shells, chemical weapons, aerial bombs, and incendiary devices have corroded over almost 80 years… About 25 years ago, scientists discovered that instead, the explosives remain live and are now oozing into the ecosystem and up the food chain.
This increase in concern is due primarily to two factors: (1) increased industrial activity in the maritime environment (offshore wind farms, dredging, and laying of seabed infrastructure); and (2) the corrosion rates of metals used for ordnance casings. Approximately eighty years have passed since countries dumped WWII UXO and one hundred years since countries dumped WWI UXO and chemical weapons. Given corrosion rates of carbon steels, aluminum, and other relevant metals encasing these hazards, what used to be inevitable is now imminent.
The Need for Professional Services
The complexity of underwater ordnance removal demands specialized expertise and equipment. The demand from our growing client base for this specific service offering has driven companies to expand their capabilities significantly. Professional services now encompass everything from initial risk assessment to safe disposal.
Igne offers a variety of offshore, inshore, and nearshore unexploded ordnance (UXO) and chemical munition risk mitigation services. Its clients includes those in the renewables sector, oil and gas companies, cable installers, port authorities, and dredgers. This diverse client base reflects the widespread nature of the problem and the critical need for expert intervention.
Advanced Technology and Methods
Modern underwater ordnance removal relies on cutting-edge technology. Leif Christensen, Ph.D., a researcher at the German Research Center for Artificial Intelligence, is working to develop autonomous underwater robots that not only identify but also recover munitions in the Baltic and North seas. These technological advances are essential for safely handling deteriorating munitions in challenging underwater environments.
The incorporation of ROVs as a tool for early detection, inspection and initial inspection, has radically increased both the efficiency of teams and the safety of units across all services of the military… ROVs are becoming a support mechanism for these highly advanced teams, and can identify the ordnance and aid in the removal of the device without putting a diver at risk.
Miller Marine Services: Leading the Way in Long Island
Located in Port Jefferson, New York, Miller Marine Services has established itself as a premier provider of underwater recovery services. Miller Marine Services provides various services from torpedo recovery to offshore wind farm development in Long Island, NY… Miller Marine Services offers the capabilities of providing or supporting offshore services for wind farm development, geophysical surveys and construction support for vessels and crews. We also offer the capability to help lay submarine cable, pipeline installation and more.
The company’s comprehensive approach extends beyond basic recovery operations. At Miller Marine Services, we provide versatile, quality service with experienced, trained crews. We have a well maintained workboat fleet with resources from a 21′ center console up to a 220′ anchor handling vessel. We belong to a network of family businesses, all related to the marine industry.
For specialized operations requiring torpedo recovery long island services, Miller Marine Services brings over three decades of experience to the table. Miller Marine Services, Inc. is outfitted with a well-equipped fleet of vessels that are designed to perform a variety of marine tasks, including Torpedo Recovery. Should you require torpedo recovery, our US Coast Guard inspected and certified vessels are outfitted with the latest technologies to accurately locate expelled torpedoes, and ensure their retrieval is done as quickly and as safely as possible.
The Future of Underwater Ordnance Recovery
As offshore development continues to expand and munitions continue to deteriorate, the demand for professional underwater ordnance removal services will only grow. Preliminary results indicate that these technologies meet DoD requirements for the safe, remote recovery of underwater military munitions and their at-sea destruction in a manner that mitigates explosives safety risks and minimizes potential environmental impacts.
The industry is responding with increased investment in technology and training. With decades of combined military and commercial experience, we offer safe, efficient, and environmentally responsible solutions for identifying, investigating, and disposing of Unexploded Ordnance (UXO)/Munitions of Explosive Concern (MEC). Equipped with advanced subsea vessels, work-class ROVs, and proprietary Low Order Deflagration (LOD) technology, we deliver industry-leading, low-impact disposal solutions.
For consumers and organizations facing potential underwater ordnance issues, partnering with experienced professionals like Miller Marine Services ensures that these dangerous remnants of war are handled safely and effectively. The company’s commitment to safety, combined with their advanced technology and experienced crews, makes them an ideal choice for addressing the growing challenge of WWII munitions discovery in underwater environments.