An estimated 1.6 million metric tons of conventional munitions lie in Germany's coastal waters alone. The vast majority is located in the North Sea; the rest in the Baltic. There are also thought to be several thousand tons of chemical weapons.

Most have lain largely forgotten for 80 years or more. While headline-grabbing bomb discoveries on dry land close down entire neighborhoods and transport networks, as in the western German city of Cologne in early June, the threat is much more insidious at sea.

Growing fears over contamination have prompted action. Now, a large mobile platform is planned that will autonomously retrieve old weapons from the seabed and dispose of them. The trailblazing project was presented to the international community at the UN Ocean Conference in the French city of Nice in June.

"Up to now, recovery operations were only carried out in the event of imminent danger, if, for example, an undetonated bomb was at risk of exploding," said Sebastian Unger, marine conservation director at Germany's Environment Ministry (BMUKN).

"Now, it is about finally tackling this problem for reasons of environmental and marine conservation, but also to ultimately reduce human health risks," added the ministery expert, talking to DW from the event.

German mines and........

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