Unexploded Ordnance: Mitigation in the Marine Environment
07/10/2025, 08:30 (GMT) Add To Calendar
Energy Central Campus
Global Underwater Hub is launching a brand new conference focused on the critical area of unexploded ordnance (UXO) in the marine environment.
The one-day conference, Unexploded Ordnance – Mitigation in the Marine Environment, will take place on Tuesday, 07 October at the Energy Central Campus in Blyth, focusing on the UXO mitigation process. It will explore current practices to raise awareness and identify improvement areas for data collection, knowledge sharing mechanisms and the prioritisation of environmentally sustainable methods of disposal.
An increase in marine development in the waters off the United Kingdom, across Europe and internationally is leading to the discovery of an increasing number of UXO. Safe and environmentally sensitive clearance of these legacy munitions is required to protect human and marine life and the planned infrastructure, whilst also not impeding existing marine users.
About UXOs
Maritime unexploded ordnance, or UXO, refers to munitions (bombs, artillery shells, depth charges, torpedoes, sea mines etc) that have been fired but failed to function as intended.
Maritime unexploded ordnance, or UXO, refers to munitions (bombs, artillery shells, depth charges, torpedoes, sea mines etc) that have been fired but failed to function as intended.
The waters around the UK coast, the Baltic Sea and many other global coastal waters, contain UXO that potentially pose a risk for infrastructure, maritime users, marine wildlife and the environment. Offshore wind farm sites, ports and landfall approaches often overlap with areas previously used in military conflict, locations for military training exercises or as munitions dumping grounds, therefore offshore wind farm developers must ensure that they have reduced the risk from UXO to as low as reasonably practicable (ALARP).
Previously, clearance of marine UXO has generally been undertaken by high-order detonation of the UXO using an additional high explosive donor charge to make the UXO function as designed. However, this release of energy can injure or disturb protected marine mammals and fish, damages marine habitats, creates craters and liquifies the seabed, which negatively affect the installation of infrastructure. Newer, lower impact alternative methods are now being utilised and recognised by the UK regulatory authorities as the preferred method of UXO disposal.
Call for speakers
Global Underwater Hub is actively seeking leading professionals working across the maritime UXO lifecycle to present at this inaugural conference on Tuesday, 07 October. We are looking for individuals and companies specialising in risk management, seabed survey, environmental assessment, UXO identification and disposal, and ALARP certification to speak at the conference, showcasing knowledge, experience and technologies to a broad audience of individuals working in the UXO, offshore energy and maritime sectors.
Global Underwater Hub is actively seeking leading professionals working across the maritime UXO lifecycle to present at this inaugural conference on Tuesday, 07 October. We are looking for individuals and companies specialising in risk management, seabed survey, environmental assessment, UXO identification and disposal, and ALARP certification to speak at the conference, showcasing knowledge, experience and technologies to a broad audience of individuals working in the UXO, offshore energy and maritime sectors.
The perspectives we are seeking contributions on include:
- Offshore wind farm developers
- Major marine, survey and UXO contractors
- Marine, survey and UXO consultancies
- Safety and environmental consultancies
- Regulatory authorities
- Insurance and legal practitioners
- Technology developers
- Equipment suppliers
Why attend
Increased use of the marine landscape around the United Kingdom, across Europe and internationally brings potential threats from UXO. This one-day conference in Blyth will explore this important topic, offering different perspectives of the challenges involved and remedial options available. By attending the Unexploded Ordnance – Mitigation in the Marine Environment conference you will have the opportunity to:
Increased use of the marine landscape around the United Kingdom, across Europe and internationally brings potential threats from UXO. This one-day conference in Blyth will explore this important topic, offering different perspectives of the challenges involved and remedial options available. By attending the Unexploded Ordnance – Mitigation in the Marine Environment conference you will have the opportunity to:
- Learn about UXO survey tools and processes
- Hear from companies at the forefront of UXO management
- Gain an understanding of challenges around marine UXOs
- Share experiences and knowledge with fellow companies and individuals in this field
- Network with colleagues from across the UXO, marine and energy sectors.
Who should attend
This one-day conference focussed on legacy marine UXO, maritime operations, offshore renewable energy developments and underwater cables and infrastructure is expected to welcome a range of stakeholders, including:
This one-day conference focussed on legacy marine UXO, maritime operations, offshore renewable energy developments and underwater cables and infrastructure is expected to welcome a range of stakeholders, including:
- Offshore wind farm developers
- Geophysicists
- Construction and engineering personnel
- UXO specialists
- Environmental regulators
- Consenting authorities
- Government agencies
- Ecologists
- Anyone with an interest in seabed and marine conservatorship.
Event format
Global Underwater Hub’s Unexploded Ordnance – Mitigation in the Marine Environment conference will take place on Tuesday, 07 October at the Energy Central Campus in Blyth. As part of the full event programme Global Underwater Hub is looking to include pre and post activities. The provisional outline would cover:
Global Underwater Hub’s Unexploded Ordnance – Mitigation in the Marine Environment conference will take place on Tuesday, 07 October at the Energy Central Campus in Blyth. As part of the full event programme Global Underwater Hub is looking to include pre and post activities. The provisional outline would cover:
Monday: Open doors showcases at local companies followed by an evening drinks reception
Tuesday: Full-day conference programme
Wednesday: Potential site visits to local businesses – subject to interest
Tuesday: Full-day conference programme
Wednesday: Potential site visits to local businesses – subject to interest
If your business is based in Blyth or the surrounding area and is involved in the marine and maritime UXO landscape, and would be interested in hosting conference delegates as part of the programme of visits and demonstrations, we would be pleased to hear from you.
Booking details
Booking for Global Underwater Hub’s Unexploded Ordnance – Mitigation in the Marine Environment conference is open, with the following ticket options:
Booking for Global Underwater Hub’s Unexploded Ordnance – Mitigation in the Marine Environment conference is open, with the following ticket options:
| GUH Member: Individual ticket | £150 + VAT |
| Non-member: Individual ticket | £250 + VAT |
To book your ticket, please click the 'Register' button at the top of the page. Please note that ticket prices on the booking page are inclusive of VAT.
A networking drinks reception is planned for the evening of Monday, 06 October. Full details will be available shortly.
The venue
Global Underwater Hub’s Unexploded Ordnance – Mitigation in the Marine Environment conference will take place at the Energy Central Campus in Blyth, situated at the mouth of the River Blyth and adjacent to the Port of Blyth.
Global Underwater Hub’s Unexploded Ordnance – Mitigation in the Marine Environment conference will take place at the Energy Central Campus in Blyth, situated at the mouth of the River Blyth and adjacent to the Port of Blyth.
Energy Central Campus
Quay Road
Blyth
Northumberland
NE24 3PA
Quay Road
Blyth
Northumberland
NE24 3PA
Sponsorship and exhibiting opportunities
A range of sponsorship and exhibiting options are available at the Unexploded Ordnance – Mitigation in the Marine Environment conference, offering companies the opportunity to raise their profile at this industry event.
A range of sponsorship and exhibiting options are available at the Unexploded Ordnance – Mitigation in the Marine Environment conference, offering companies the opportunity to raise their profile at this industry event.
To discuss the options to raise your company’s profile at this conference, please contact the Global Underwater Hub events team on events@theguh.co.uk, or call 01224 506600.
About Global Underwater Hub
Global Underwater Hub is the leading trade and industry development body for the UK’s underwater sectors. Find out more about becoming a member.
Global Underwater Hub is the leading trade and industry development body for the UK’s underwater sectors. Find out more about becoming a member.