Germany’s Program on Underwater Munitions Claus Böttcher Managing Director Claus Böttcher HELCOM Submerged #4 12. ‐ 14. April 2016 w w w . u n d e r w a t e r m u n i t i o n s . d e 1 Simplified Chart on munitions ‐ contaminated areas German area of North Sea Munitions German area of Baltic Sea rd. 1.300.000 t conventional rd. 300.000 t rd. 90 t chemical rd. 5.000 t Claus Böttcher Number and density of symbols do not munitions dumpsites reflect the magnitude of HELCOM Submerged #4 munitions ‐ contaminated area potential munitions contamination. (t = metric tons)! suspected munitions ‐ contaminated area 12. ‐ 14. April 2016 w w w . u n d e r w a t e r m u n i t i o n s . d e 2
Targets of the Action plan • Keep public and politics informed • Provide available information • Find & share information, not available jet • Support science and EOD response squad • Consult administration on federal and state level • Facilitate media relations Claus Böttcher HELCOM Submerged #4 12. ‐ 14. April 2016 w w w . u n d e r w a t e r m u n i t i o n s . d e 3 Action Plan in detail • Historical research, assessment • Database & risk assessment • Communication transparency • “True” sea charts and thematic maps • Science – eco ‐ toxicology & monitoring – R & D: automatic remediation (robot) • Salvage and systemic recovery – e.g. recovery of artillery shells (diver) – Re ‐ location of ground mines and “V1” Claus Böttcher HELCOM Submerged #4 – Blasting of dangerous objects (bubble curtain) 12. ‐ 14. April 2016 w w w . u n d e r w a t e r m u n i t i o n s . d e 4
ACTION PLAN IN DETAIL Claus Böttcher HELCOM Submerged #4 12. ‐ 14. April 2016 w w w . u n d e r w a t e r m u n i t i o n s . d e 5 Research in German und International Military archives • German Federal Archives – Department Military Archive (Freiburg) – German Military History Office • Municipal and local archives – Sea port records – Village and town chronicles • International archives – Imperial War Museum (London) – The National Archive, Washington DC. Claus Böttcher – Archive of Allied Forces Conucil (WW II) HELCOM Submerged #4 12. ‐ 14. April 2016 w w w . u n d e r w a t e r m u n i t i o n s . d e 6
Example: Historic research I Mine barriers World War I. and II. 213 Dän. Mines I.+ II.WW 1.551 Ger. Mines WW I 994 Ger. Mines WW II 4325 English Ground Mines Claus Böttcher HELCOM Submerged #4 www.underwatermunitions.de 12. ‐ 14. April 2016 7 Example: Historic research II British Mine laying in waterway Kiel lighthouse • Royal Air Force laid 3,896 Ground mines in mine gardens „Wallflower“, „Melon“ and „Forget me not“ • During the War 95 ships hit • 114 mines found on land • 1,002 mines swept during the war • Roughly 2,000 mines swept after WW II • 350 to 700 mines still suspected near waterways • 27 English moored mines detected ad Claus Böttcher HELCOM swept in 2015 !!!! Submerged #4 12. ‐ 14. April 2016 w w w . u n d e r w a t e r m u n i t i o n s . d e 8
Examples for results • Naval data on sea mine warfare material – Maps on Pages 24 and 25 of long version • Mines deployed from ships and planes • Disarmament and sea dumping – Localtion of troops – Directives of military administration – Memorandom of executive units Deployment of mines – Reports to supervisors within the Nazi regime on Sept. 22 nd , 1944 – Eye witnesses reports Claus Böttcher HELCOM Submerged #4 12. ‐ 14. April 2016 w w w . u n d e r w a t e r m u n i t i o n s . d e 9 Example Historic research II En Route dumping Wichert (2012): Dumping of German cruise missiles WW II (V1) Claus Böttcher HELCOM Submerged #4 Wichert (2012): Dumping of Mustard gas, April 1945 12. ‐ 14. April 2016 w w w . u n d e r w a t e r m u n i t i o n s . d e 10
Systematic assessment of areas under suspect • Technical assessments – Side scan sonar – Sensors based on natural magnetism – Chemical analysis of livestock, water and sediment • Co ‐ operation of coastal authorities – Common Process for useful data to all perspectives of co ‐ operating authorities – coordination of scientific sails, Claus Böttcher better synergy HELCOM Submerged #4 12. ‐ 14. April 2016 w w w . u n d e r w a t e r m u n i t i o n s . d e 11 Example: Technical Assessment 2012 ‐ 2015 • Location Kiel Lighthouse area • Aim Survey of an known dumping area • Result I 4,883 Contacts with < 350 Kg Explosives each in the dumping area • Result II 74 English Ground mines, 7 Bomb/Naval mines, 1 Naval mines, 8 Torpedo heads Eliminated from nearby waterway Claus Böttcher and traffic separation zone HELCOM Submerged #4 12. ‐ 14. April 2016 w w w . u n d e r w a t e r m u n i t i o n s . d e 12
Example: German Navy and Federal Waterway Admin. 4883 Contacts with < 350 Kg Explosives each in the dumping area Claus Böttcher HELCOM Submerged #4 Deutsche Marine ‐ Presse ‐ und Informationszentrum, 2012 12. ‐ 14. April 2016 w w w . u n d e r w a t e r m u n i t i o n s . d e 13 Database & risk assessment Mine positions, mandatory shipping routes and recent findings of British ground mines Kiel Claus Böttcher HELCOM Submerged #4 12. ‐ 14. April 2016 w w w . u n d e r w a t e r m u n i t i o n s . d e 14
Communication & transparency Claus Böttcher HELCOM Submerged #4 12. ‐ 14. April 2016 w w w . u n d e r w a t e r m u n i t i o n s . d e 15 “True” sea charts and thematic maps September 1993 September 2013 Claus Böttcher HELCOM Submerged #4 12. ‐ 14. April 2016 w w w . u n d e r w a t e r m u n i t i o n s . d e 16
ENC codes Claus Böttcher HELCOM Sea dumped waste of chemical weapons? Submerged #4 12. ‐ 14. April 2016 w w w . u n d e r w a t e r m u n i t i o n s . d e 17 Salvage and systemic recovery • e.g. recovery of artillery shells (diver) • Re ‐ location of ground mines and “V1” • Blasting of dangerous objects (bubble curtain) Claus Böttcher HELCOM Submerged #4 12. ‐ 14. April 2016 w w w . u n d e r w a t e r m u n i t i o n s . d e 18
Science • „Research for Maritime Technologie“ German Federal Ministry of Economic Affairs and Energy – Project RoBEMM has startet November 2015 • „Research for Sustainable Development (FONA) “ of the German Federal Ministry of Edukation and Research – Projekt UdEMM approved and will start in March 2016 Claus Böttcher HELCOM Submerged #4 12. ‐ 14. April 2016 w w w . u n d e r w a t e r m u n i t i o n s . d e 19 Thank you for your attention Claus Böttcher HELCOM Submerged #4 12. ‐ 14. April 2016 w w w . u n d e r w a t e r m u n i t i o n s . d e 20
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