MUNIRISK

Background

MUNI-RISK is an international cross-sectoral multidisciplinary project, which addresses environmental and safety concerns related to submerged munitions in the Baltic Sea. It utilizes existing cooperation frameworks in the Baltic Sea Region, such as HELCOM and CBSS and builds upon the outcomes of national and international projects, such as DAIMON I & II, JPI-O, BASTA, CONMAR, North Sea Wrecks, and REMARCO. 

Objectives

The main goal of the MUNI-RISK is to conclusively establish the risks posed by submerged munitions to better protect the Baltic Sea environment and support the maritime industry, ensure sustainable development of the blue economy and introduce green energy practices offshore.

MUNI-RISK is stipulating enhanced inter-sectoral multidisciplinary collaboration focused on two principal objectives:

• to prioritize areas of greatest environmental concern for remediation across the entire Baltic Sea;
• to address site-specific environmental risk assessment needs in areas where infrastructures are under consideration.

Approach

MUNIRISK will compile public and restricted data from the Baltic Sea States into a common database. The project will identify and fill data gaps, promote a scientific risk-based approach to management of submerged munitions and prioritize areas of significant environmental concern in the Baltic Sea. By doing so, the project will enhance the capacity of public and private entities as well as will develop and provide methodology for the inclusion of munitions into Environmental Impact Assessments. MUNIRISK will disseminate and communicate transferable results on submerged munitions through a dedicated stakeholder framework including national and international authorities, investors and civil society actors. The project will develop policy briefings for decision-makers and ensure that the results can be replicated and transferred to other seas and basins, particularly to the Black Sea.

Project partners and HELCOM’s role

Aarhus University, Denmark, lead partner 

Geomar, Germany    

HELCOM, intergovernmental organisation, Finland   

Regional municipality of Bornholm, Denmark   

CBSS, intergovernmental organisation, Sweden    

IOPAN, Poland

The main role of HELCOM is to support and enhance decision making cooperation in the Baltic Sea area regarding submerged munitions in the Baltic Sea and risks associated with sediment disturbance and resuspension in order to attain the objectives of the Baltic Sea Action Plan (BSAP). The data collected by MUNI-RISK will be available through HELCOM Map and Data Service (MADS) to achieve the HELCOM BSAP action S35. In collaboration with the CBSS, HELCOM is facilitating discussions and organizing macro-regional stakeholder workshops to provide a substantial input for the HELCOM BSAP action S34, while ensuring cross-sectoral and multidisciplinary outreach.

Funding

The project is co-funded by the European Union, total budget 2.465 million €

Project duration

3 years (November 2024 – October 2027)

Contacts

Markus Helavuori

HELCOM Deputy Executive Secretary,
Professional Secretary
markus.helavuori@helcom.fi
+358 40 162 6520

Andriy Grafov

HELCOM Project Coordinator
andriy.grafov@helcom.fi
+358 44 735 7635