Underwater EOD in the Baltic Sea (IExpE Journal September 2018)
I’m proud to share one of my previously published articles in the Explosives Engineering Journal of the Institute of Explosives Engineers (IExpE). The feature, titled “Underwater EOD in the Baltic Sea”, highlights the scale and complexity of maritime UXO challenges encountered during subsea pipeline development in one of the world’s most contaminated marine environments.
The Baltic Sea contains a vast legacy of explosive ordnance, from sea mines and torpedoes to chemical munitions and dumped WWII ammunition with an estimated 180,000 mines laid between 1848 and 1945 and up to 40,000 tonnes of chemical weapons dumped after the war, as referenced by HELCOM reports. These conditions demanded a highly structured, risk-based EOD approach to support safe construction along the planned pipeline routes.
The article describes how survey teams and EOD specialists integrated geophysical data, ROV-based investigations and the Cobra Mine Disposal System (MDS) to identify, classify and neutralise UXO hazards. More than seventy subsea targets were investigated and, where confirmed as UXO, neutralised or destroyed using controlled, environmentally-mitigated explosive techniques including bubble curtain systems to reduce acoustic impact on marine life
A central theme of the article is the requirement for senior-level oversight, clear procedures and coordinated execution. Successful operations depended on accurate survey interpretation, qualified personnel, and safe integration between contractors, vessels and regulatory frameworks.
You can read the original publication in the Explosives Engineering Journal, September 2018, pages 16/17 https://iexpe.org/journals/september-2018/
