The number of potentially hazardous wrecks is significant. One estimate is of more than 8,500 potentially polluting wrecks worldwide, containing an estimated six billion gallons of heavy fuel oil. In context, this is 545 times more than was released in the Exxon Valdez disaster [ a major oil spill that occurred in March of 1989, when an oil supertanker ran aground in Alaska, spilling 37,000 tonnes of crude oil and affecting 1,300 miles of wild coastline ].
A significant proportion of these are from WWII and lie in UK and surrounding waters. The Battle of the Atlantic alone resulted in the loss of 3,500 merchant ships, 175 Allied warships and 765 Uboats; many of these wrecks remain on the seabed today, some easily reached by divers, others in deeper waters.
What can be done?
To publicise this growing threat, the Nautical Archaeology Society( NAS) has joined the growing collaborative movement to develop a global framework for the near and long-term assessment, intervention and sharing of data on potentially polluting wrecks. This international challenge is being spearheaded by Project Tangaroa whose recent achievements include the creation of the Malta Manifesto – a call to action outlining future strategies.
The NAS contributed to the manifesto to ensure that citizen science and diver involvement are central to future efforts to protect our shared ocean and maritime heritage. This citizen science involvement is already underway through NAS’ s WRECKognising Pollution project, funded by the Lloyd’ s Register Foundation. Their work led to the creation of the Malta Manifesto— a call to action outlining future strategies. The Nautical Archaeology Society is now
Briggs Marine contractors have removed 1,600 tons of heavy fuel from the Royal Oak in Orkney
Bow of the Carnatic wreck, Egypt- older wrecks of sail-powered ships are less likely to have toxic contents
working to ensure that citizen science and diver involvement are central to future efforts to protect our shared ocean and maritime heritage.
Divers play a crucial role. The first step is awareness – understanding that wrecks can be both historically important and environmentally hazardous. The next step is knowing how to report signs of potential pollution so that information can be tracked and acted upon effectively.
To support this, a marine user survey has been developed. The survey asks about:
■ Your knowledge and experience of polluting wrecks
■ Any observations or data you can share
■ How you would prefer to report concerns( for example, phone, text, email, or other methods)
The aim is simple: there’ s no point building a reporting system that people won’ t use. Your input will directly shape what happens next.
Divers can help by spreading the word and completing the survey. Together we can provide usable data on a problem that too often is out of sight and out of mind and tackle emerging problems before they cause catastrophe. �
Survey link: nauticalarchaeologysociety. org / polluting-wrecks
MV Solomon Trader leaking oil in 2019
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