International Conference on Baltic Wrecks 2019: invisible threat at the sea bottom.
The Conference took place on 27th February 2019 in Warsaw, Poland. It was a well-attended event, with experts from all Baltic countries. The conference was organised in the framework of the project "Reduction of the negative impact of oil spills from the Franken shipwreck" financed by the Baltic Sea Conservation Foundation (baltcf) and carried out by the MARE Foundation in partnership with the Maritime Institute in Gdańsk.
The aim of the conference was to draw attention to the problem of fuel still stored on shipwrecks in the Baltic Sea, both based on the example of the T/S Franken shipwreck, as well as other wrecks classified as potentially dangerous to the environment. The conference discussed, among others, the negative effects of oil spills, the scale of the problem in the Baltic and worldwide, the risk assessment methods, the legal framework in regards to undertaking operations on wrecks, and the available salvage technologies used for cleaning operations.
Jorma Rytkönen, the Finnish Environment Institute, the moderator of the meeting presented an overview of polluting wrecks in the Baltic. Hazards and high risk are associated with shipwrecks. There are more than 8.500 potentially polluting wrecks worldwide. He noted that there are a few hundred wrecks in the Polish Exclusive Economic Zone. The Maritime Institute in Gdańsk plays a significant role in the research of shipwrecks.
The presentations:
Justyna Rogowska, Medical University of Warsaw presented “The Threat to the Marine Environment Resulting from the Presence of World War II Shipwrecks, on the example of the S/S Stuttgart.
Benedykt Hac, the Maritime Institute in Gdańsk presented “Dangerous Wrecks of the Gulf of Gdańsk”.
Milosz Grabowski/Jacek Bełdowski, The Institute of Oceanology of the Polish Academy of Sciences (IO PAN) presented “Dumped Munitions and Warfare Material in Wrecks as a Threat to the Ecosystem”.
Possible Scenarios for Marine Pollution in the Case of Shipwreck Collapse prior to the Removal of Fuel or Oil Cargo Stored in the Wreck were presented by Marek Reszko, Maritime Search and Rescue Service (SAR). The Swedish Model for Prioritization and Remediation of Environmentally Hazardous Shipwrecks was presented by Frida Åberg, Swedish Agency for Marine and Water Management (SWAM). The Past Experiences on Oil Removal Operations in Finland and the New National Wreck Programme for the Next Three Years was presented Jorma Rytkönen, Finnish Environment Institute. Aranda’s Use in the Study of Harmful Substances on Shipwrecks, and the Co-operation of MRC and Badewanne was presented by Juha Flinkman, Finnish Environment Institute/Marine Research Center (MRC). Shipwrecks in Legal Frameworks: the International Perspective was presented by Ville Peltokorpi, Finnish Scientific Diving Steering Association. Overview of the Available Technologies and Case Studies for Oil Recovery from Shipwrecks was presented by Kari Rinne, Innovator and Entrepreneur at Karinne Ltd. Manolis L – Successful Oil Removal: 33 Years After,70 Metres Below Harsh Sea Level was presented by Jacek Liberak, Ardent – Global Marine Services. Matt Skelhorn, Salvage and Marine Operations (SALMO), UK Ministry of Defence Programme made a presentation on the UK MOD Wreck Management. Marek Reszko, Maritime Search and Rescue Service (SAR) [resented Securing the Oil-Removal Operation by the Maritime Search and Rescue Service and Possible Cooperating forces.
The presentations are available at: BALTIC WRECK CONFERENCE 2019
The project carried out by the MARE Foundation focuses on the Franken shipwreck from the Second World War, located in the Gdańsk Bay. Its tanks may contain up to 1.5 million litres of fuel. There is a risk that the wreck will collapse due to advanced corrosion causing fuel leakage into the Bay. Such potential spill will destroy many valuable and protected habitats.
In July and August the MARE Foundation conducted a campaign on the Franken shipwreck. Almost 50.000 people signed the petition at www.fundacjamare.pl. Such support is crucial in order to mobilise the governmental authorities, scientific institutions and business to engage in the protection of the Baltic and to take the responsibility for cleaning the wreck.
In October 2018, the Maritime Office placed a temporary diving exclusion on the Franken shipwreck. The Director of the Maritime Office explained that the shipwreck is excluded from diving because of the risks related to the fuel deposited in the wreck as well as munition and to ensure the safety of the divers. The re-opening of the wreck for diving activities will take place after all potential risks resulting from the chemical substances deposited inside the wreck possibility are clarified. The wreck remains excluded from diving.
The MARE Foundation plans to organise meetings with relevant institutions to discuss the possible cooperation in cleaning operations on the Franken shipwreck and their financing. The international expert group will continue the work on the methodology of oil removal operations in the Baltic, which will serve as international guidelines to assess the risk and methods used to remove oil from the wrecks.
- The project conducted by the MARE Foundation is a pilot project. We prepared an action plan for oil removal from Franken shipwreck and the methodology of oil removal operations, which can also be used on other potentially dangerous Baltic wrecks. We hope that this will turn out into projects aimed at cleaning the Baltic wrecks - adds Olga Sarna from the MARE Foundation.