The UK government has unveiled new regulations requiring offshore wind developers to adopt “low-noise methods” when disposing of unexploded ordnance (UXO) found on the seabed. The move, aimed at minimizing environmental and ecological impacts, establishes low-noise clearance as the default method for all future marine license applicants.
A joint statement issued by the UK government, devolved administrations, and organizations such as Natural England, outlined that low-noise clearance techniques, which render UXO safe without causing high-order detonations, would now be the preferred approach. “Low noise clearance will become the default option for all future applicants of marine licenses,” the statement said.
Policymakers emphasized that the switch to these “new tools” would help reduce damage to the seabed, as well as minimize injury and disruption to marine life. The statement further noted that high-order clearance methods, which can cause significant disturbances, would now be regarded as a “last resort.”
High-energy clearance methods will remain permissible, but only under “extraordinary circumstances,” such as repeated failures of low-noise tools after three attempts, or when factors like depth and shell thickness warrant their use. This change aims to address the legacy of unexploded ordnance often encountered in UK waters, a result of the two world wars.
