The EU-funded project Marine Munition in Europe - Solutions with Economic and Ecological Profits for Efficient Remediation (MMinE-SwEEPER) has officially begun. The initiative kicked off in November 2024 with a gathering of the 20 partners at the GEOMAR Helmholtz Centre for Ocean Research in Kiel, aiming to further develop sustainable solutions for unexploded ordnance (UXO) across Europe's seafloors.
JPI Oceans plays a key role in the project, leading the Communication and Outreach work package, which encompasses tasks focused on immediate project communication and the long-term distribution of knowledge, cooperation, and capacity building. In line with this, JPI Oceans aims to further enhance the JPI Oceans Knowledge Portal on Munitions in the Sea, which was officially launched earlier this year at the European Maritime Day. This will ensure the knowledge and innovations generated by the project reach the diverse stakeholders addressing marine munitions, ultimately informing policymakers.
Overall, MMinE-SwEEPER, spanning a duration of 42 months, focuses on the following key objectives:
- Pooling Knowledge and Management Approaches: Bringing together data and expertise from countries and projects to develop remediation solutions with stakeholders.
- Promoting Technological Advances: Improving robotics, AI, and 3D imaging for detecting and classifying munitions.
- Real-world Testing and Validation: Trialling new technologies in test areas and real UXO sites.
- Building Capacity and Strengthening Collaboration: Organising training and workshops to strengthen expertise and cooperation.
- Strengthening European Cooperation: Promoting collaboration on remediation strategies and policy development.
By uniting cutting-edge innovation with robust dissemination efforts, MMinE-SwEEPER aims not only to tackle UXO risks but also to provide a sustainable framework for future Europe-wide action.
For more information about the kick-off meeting, visit the GEOMAR website.