Project Tangaroa

There is a growing risk of marine pollution from sunk and abandoned ships in our oceans. Recent estimates conclude that globally there are over 8,500 sunk vessels classified as ‘potentially polluting wrecks’ (PPW). The majority of these wrecks date from World War I and II and many contain harmful chemical pollutants, unexploded munitions and tonnes of oil.

Based on real experience in working to assess and respond to marine pollution risks from PPWs, Lloyd’s Register Foundation, The Ocean Foundation and Waves Group, supported by the International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN) and the International Council on Monuments and Sites (ICOMOS) International Committee on the Underwater Cultural Heritage (ICUCH), have come together to take positive action to address the PPW problem.

Project Tangaroa has been initiated to:

• Develop the global framework for the near and long term assessment, intervention and sharing of data for potentially polluting wrecks.
• Develop the international standard and protocols in partnership with stakeholders.
• Demonstrate that regional campaigns, utilising a standardised methodology, where a number of wrecks can be surveyed, recorded and assessed, can reduce overall costs.
• Produce a technology roadmap to support optimised assessments and intervention of PPW.
• Develop an archive strategy for PPW datasets and the dissemination of information.

Visit the Project Tangaroa website for more information. If you would like to collaborate on potentially polluting wrecks contact our programme manager using the details below.