SAFE-BS2BKS
Safe Actions for Environment – Baltic Solutions to the Black Sea
Background
The SAFE BS2BKS project aims to make our seas safer and healthier by bringing proven Baltic Sea methods for managing underwater munitions to the Black Sea region, with a special focus on Ukraine.
Led by HELCOM, a key regional organisation for marine protection and research, the project builds on experience from European initiatives such as MUNI-RISK, MUNIMAP and MMinE-SwEEPER, SAFE BS2BKS connects experts, authorities and civil society from both regions to share knowledge, develop skills and strengthen cooperation.
Through trainings, workshops and joint planning, the project helps reduce environmental and security risks posed by old sea-dumped weapons. It also promotes climate resilience and the protection of marine life, especially in sensitive and protected areas. One of its main outcomes will be a joint Baltic–Black Sea Action Plan to guide future efforts for the safe and sustainable management of underwater munitions.
Objectives and approach
The goal of the SAFE BS2BKS project is to transfer and implement the most effective and safe techniques used in the Baltic Sea for managing underwater munitions in the Black Sea region, with a strong focus on environmental security and the sustainability of marine ecosystems, especially in protected areas.
The HELCOM will use its macro-regional network to facilitate discussions and organise a key stakeholder dialogue and workshops to provide a substantial input for achieving the HELCOM BSAP action S34, while ensuring cross-sectoral and multi-disciplinary outreach as well as transfer of knowledge to the Black Sea region and Ukraine in particular. These activities will focus on applying proven Baltic methods for assessing and mitigating hazards posed by submerged munitions, while integrating these approaches into marine environmental monitoring and climate adaptation strategies.
Special caution will be used in environmentally protected and sensitive marine areas, where the presence of harmful munitions can harm biodiversity and ecosystem integrity. Black Sea stakeholders will gain valuable experience by learning from the accumulated experience in the Baltic Sea to effectively address such issues.
One of the project’s major outputs will be the creation of an Action Plan, outlining recommendations, future activities and advice for the safe management of submerged ordnances in the Black Sea. This Action Plan will be employed to inform subsequent activities under future regional and international projects to ensure marine environmental protection and risk management are pursued in a structured and coordinated way.
Project partners
- HELCOM, Finland
- Aarhus University, Denmark, lead partner
- LHEI, Agency of Daugavpils University “Latvian Institute of Aquatic Ecology”, Latvia
- UkrSCES, Ukrainian Scientific Centre of Ecology of the Sea, Ukraine
- IMB-NAS, Institute of Marine Biology of the National Academy of Sciences, Ukraine
- ICSA-NAAS, Institute of Climate-Smart Agriculture of the National Academy of Agrarian Sciences, Ukraine
HELCOM’s role
HELCOM will play a central coordinating role in ensuring that knowledge, best practices and methodologies developed in the Baltic Sea are effectively transferred to the Black Sea region. By engaging national authorities, research institutions and environmental organisations, HELCOM will promote regional cooperation and alignment with international marine protection standards. Its facilitation of stakeholder dialogue, under HELCOM BSAP action S34, will strengthen the scientific and policy basis for addressing underwater munitions risks and advancing sustainable marine management across both sea basins.
Project duration
18 months (September 2025 – February 2027)
Funding
The project is funded by the Council of the Baltic Sea States (CBSS) Project Support Facility (PSF), total budget 65.000€
Resources
Contact
Andriy Grafov
Project Coordinator
HELCOM Secretariat
andriy.grafov@helcom.fi
+358 44 735 7635
Katarina Viik
Professional Secretary
HELCOM Secretariat
katarina.viik@helcom.fi
+358 44 494 6727
