Potentially polluting wrecks: protecting people and planet

As well as exploring all aspects of the PPW issue in greater depth, this report makes a range of more detailed recommendations to tackle the challenge. These must be collectively implemented through the drive and influence of a range of stakeholders working across the maritime system and beyond. It is also recommended that key actions aligned with advocacy, convening, standards and fundraising should be given additional catalytic support by a dedicated secretariat, such as Project Tangaroa.

For implementation by PPW stakeholders, actively supported by a secretariat:

1. An advocacy campaign should be coordinated to secure urgent action and lasting change.
2. International standards for PPW management should be formulated and disseminated through the International Maritime Organization.
3. UNEP and UNESCO should be engaged in discussion on development of PPW guidelines and toolkits and integration of PPWs into relevant international policy frameworks. These discussions should seek explicit acknowledgement of PPW management as an important action aligned with Sustainable Development Goal 14 and its aim to avoid and dramatically decrease marine pollution.
4. A PPW finance task force should be established to lead a campaign to ensure that fit for purpose finance is mobilised at scale to protect vulnerable communities and the environment.
5. A technology roadmap should be developed to chart the path to the democratisation of scaled technology.
6. A PPW data access and archive strategy should be developed to maximise availability of information that enables evidence-led PPW management.

For implementation by PPW stakeholders:

1. Stakeholders should commit to localisation and empowerment to ensure that those most affected have the strongest voice in finding safe solutions.
2. Climate change impacts and illegal salvage should be acknowledged as severe risks to PPW stability and opportunities should be sought to address this through relevant national and international policy development.
3. PPWs should be explicitly included in national and regional oil spill response strategies.
4. PPW management should be integrated into broader ocean stewardship, coastal management and marine spatial planning frameworks, associated risk assessments and related policy development.
5. PPWs should be recognised and assessed as a risk-factor potentially requiring mitigation in connection with matters such as blue investments, habitat restoration projects and planning and management of marine protected areas and highly protected marine areas.
6. The data required to implement such risk assessments, associated mitigation strategies and management plans should be evaluated and necessary research initiated urgently to address any key gaps.
7. PPW management workforce safety should be assured across all sectors and activities.
8. PPW management must be integrated with broader efforts aimed at addressing the complex and toxic legacy of war.

If you wish to use and reference the Potentially polluting wrecks: protecting people and planet report in your own work, please include the following DOI: https://doi.org/10.60743/h3rh-q263

Example Citation in IEEE Style:

Lloyd's Register Foundation, “Potentially polluting wrecks: protecting people and planet,” Lloyd's Register Foundation, 2025. doi: 10.60743/H3RH-Q263.