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 developments. Discussions focused on the outcomes of BALTWRECK research expeditions, innovative methods for detecting fuel residues and munitions, and approaches to reducing environmental risks posed by hazardous wrecks. Particular attention was given to decision-support tools for wreck management and prioritisation, as well as laboratory studies and ecotoxicological risk assessments conducted at selected Baltic Sea wreck sites.
The programme also included a study visit to historical military heritage sites in the Klaipėda region, offering participants additional insights into the area’s maritime history and cultural heritage.
The second day of the meeting was dedicated to communication and dissemination activities. Project partners reviewed the progress achieved within individual work packages, discussed the visualisation and promotion of project results, and outlined plans for the next phase of implementation.
The meeting once again demonstrated the importance of international cooperation in developing effective solutions to prevent large-scale marine pollution and to improve the management of hazardous shipwrecks and underwater munitions in the Baltic Sea.
