Maritime UXO: Managing Risk, Enabling Offshore Development

Maritime unexploded ordnance (UXO) remains one of the most significant challenges facing offshore energy and marine infrastructure projects today. Across UK waters, the Baltic Sea and many other coastal regions worldwide, legacy munitions from past conflicts, military training activities and disposal operations continue to pose risks to offshore wind developments, ports, subsea cables and other critical infrastructure.

As offshore activity expands into increasingly complex marine environments, developers must identify, assess and mitigate UXO risks to ensure projects can be delivered safely, efficiently and in compliance with regulatory requirements. Reducing risk to As Low As Reasonably Practicable (ALARP) is now a key consideration throughout the project lifecycle.
Traditionally, marine UXO disposal has relied on high-order detonation techniques. While effective, these methods can have significant environmental consequences, including impacts on protected marine mammals and fish, damage to sensitive habitats and disruption of seabed conditions.

The industry is now embracing a new generation of lower-impact disposal technologies that can significantly reduce environmental effects while maintaining the highest safety standards. These innovative approaches are increasingly recognised by UK regulators as the preferred option for many UXO clearance activities.

Why attend? 

Join industry experts, developers, regulators and technology providers to explore:

• The latest developments in marine UXO risk management

• Evolving regulatory and environmental requirements

• Best practice for offshore wind, ports and marine infrastructure projects

• Advances in low-impact UXO disposal technologies

• Lessons learned from recent offshore projects

• Future challenges and opportunities across the sector

This conference provides a unique opportunity to gain practical insights, share experiences and connect with professionals working at the forefront of marine UXO management and offshore development.

Speakers

The 2026 UXO conference will feature a broad range of speakers from companies and organisations involved in the underwater industry, including offshore wind farm developers, regulators, UXO specialists and marine environmental conservators.  

Last year’s speakers included companies working at the forefront of the UXO, offshore renewables and maritime operations sectors, including: 6 Alpha Associates, Atlas Elektronik, Boskalis, EPI Group, Flotation Energy, Helix Robotics Solutions, Joint Nature Conservation Committee, NatureScot, Next Geosolutions, Ordtek - a Venterra Group company, Rapidscan Subsea from Enshore Subsea, Royal IHC, ThayerMahan and Xodus Group.