PROJECT
Baltwreck
Preventing massive marine waters chemical pollution from the leaking wrecks and munition/ weapon dumps in the South Baltic
PROGRAMME
Total budget: 3,830,285.76 €
ERDF funding: 3,064,228.60 €
Duration: 2024–2027
Lead Partner: Institute of Fluid-Flow Machinery Polish Academy of Sciences
Consortium: 14 partners from Poland, Lithuania, Germany and Sweden
PROJECT
OBJECTIVE
The BALTWRECK objective is to contribute to reducing pollution of the Baltic Sea by hazardous fuel, munitions and other remains of shipwrecks by jointly developing, demonstrating and implementing wreck management methods.
EXPECTED
RESULTS
Results will include:
- efficient wrecks diagnostics methods,
- in-situ remediation technologies for hazardous fuels from wrecks as well as munition and explosives,
- testing the developed solutions in at least 3 pilot locations, and
- examining the toxicological risk for marine ecosystems caused by dumped munitions and hydrocarbon deposits.
Last but not least, the recommendations for policy makers, local marine and cities administration will be formulated.
The project aims to include municipalities located in the vicinity of wrecks in the decision process, by raising awareness of decision makers and general public via a series of workshops and conferences, as well as public information campaign.
KEY AREAS
The BALTWRECK project concentrates on four key areas:
Policy
Risk Assessment
& decision making
Remediation
Public Awareness
PROJECT
PARTNERS
The BALTWRECK Consortium consists of 14 partners and is coordinated by the Institute of Fluid-Flow Machinery PAS.
1. Institute of Fluid-Flow Machinery Polish Academy of Sciences (https://www.imp.gda.pl)
2. University of Gdańsk (https://ug.edu.pl)
3. Association of Polish Communes Euroregion Baltic (https://eurobalt.org.pl/en/home-en)
4. Gdynia Maritime University (https://umg.edu.pl/en)
5. Klaipeda University (https://www.ku.lt/en)
6. Leibniz Institute for Baltic Sea Research in Warnemünde (io-warnemuende.de/en_index.html)
7. JT Ship Service Tomasz Jatkowski
8. Helmholtz Centre for Ocean Research Kiel (https://www.geomar.de/en)
9. Nature Research Centre (https://gamtostyrimai.lt/en)
10. Chalmers University of Technology (https://www.chalmers.se/en)
11. German Environment Agency (https://www.umweltbundesamt.de/en)
12. North.io LtD. (https://north.io/en)
13. CLEANERGY LtD. (www.bioecoph.pl)
14. Jagiellonian University (https://en.uj.edu.pl/en_GB/start)
PROJECT
NEWS
From Spill Modelling to Risk Management: Environmental Hazards of Historical Baltic Shipwrecks
Historical shipwrecks in the Baltic Sea can pose long-term environmental risks due to fuel, munitions and other hazardous substances. Understanding how these contaminants are released and transported is essential for effective risk assessment and remediation. On 1 September 2026, during a dedicated session on environmental hazards associated with shipwrecks at the 14th Wdzydzeanum Conference on Fluid–Solid Interactions, researchers from the Institute of Fluid-Flow Machinery of the Polish Academy of Sciences (IMP PAN) presented four complementary studies focusing on submerged shipwreck
BALTWRECK Featured in eFEkty: Addressing the Environmental Risks of Baltic Sea Shipwrecks
Alternatywnie, krócej: BALTWRECK in eFEkty: Old Ships, New Environmental Challenges We are pleased to share that the BALTWRECK project has been featured in the latest issue of eFEkty – European Funds in Poland, a bulletin published by the Polish Ministry of Development Funds and Regional Policy. The article, „Old Ships, New Problems”, presented on pages 18–19, focuses on the environmental threats posed by hazardous shipwrecks resting on the Baltic Sea seabed. It explains the risks associated with the potential release
BALTWRECK Mid-Term Assessment & Communication Event for Project Partners and Stakeholders
On 27–28 May 2026, project partners and stakeholders met in Klaipėda, Lithuania, for the BALTWRECK Mid-Term Assessment & Communication Event. The meeting marked an important milestone in the project, providing an opportunity to review the achievements of the first implementation phase, assess progress, and discuss future activities aimed at addressing environmental risks associated with leaking shipwrecks and dumped munitions in the Baltic Sea. During the first day of the event, participants were presented with the latest research results and project
Investigating the Stuttgart Wreck in the Baltic Sea – Key Stage of the ALKOR Cruise in the #BALTWRECK Project
The next stage of the ALKOR research cruise as part of the #BALTWRECK projectOn March 30, during a stopover in Gdynia, a study cruise was carried out to investigate the Stuttgart wreck.The event was attended by representatives of key institutions involved in marine environmental protection and environmental risk management, including the Chief Inspectorate for Environmental Protection, the Chief Inspectorate of Sea Fisheries, the Marshal’s Office of the Pomeranian Voivodeship, the City of Gdynia, the Institute of Fluid-Flow Machinery of the
MEDIA
CONTACT
If you have any questions regarding the project, feel free to contact us via the contact form.