UXO: The Hidden Challenge Beneath our Oceans
2 April 2025
Understanding the UXO Risks in Offshore Projects
Below the surface of the world’s oceans, a silent legacy of wars and conflicts remains – one that poses a very real and very present challenge to the future of offshore energy and marine infrastructure.
The seabed holds an estimated 1.3 million tons of unexploded ordnance (UXO), remnants of conflicts that ended decades ago but continue to shape the way we build and expand the offshore energy sector. In UK waters alone, over 500,000 UXO items (100,000 tonnes) are scattered across the seabed, a hidden risk to offshore wind farms, subsea cables, pipelines and construction projects.
Why UXO detection matters
The offshore wind sector is critical to achieving net zero targets. Yet, one of the greatest barriers to progress isn’t technological – it’s historical.
UXO can halt offshore projects in their tracks, causing costly delays, safety hazards and environmental concerns. Every turbine foundation, every cable route and every new installation must contend with the risk of encountering an explosive relic of past wars.
The stakes are high. How do we ensure that history doesn’t slow our future?
Technology solutions for UXO detection
Mitigating UXO risk isn’t about avoiding the problem—it’s about tackling it with precision, intelligence and the right technology.
Today, we have access to advanced geophysical survey tools that allow us to detect, classify and manage UXO risk with greater accuracy than ever before:
- Multibeam Echosounders deliver high-resolution seabed mapping using sound waves to create 3D images, essential for early UXO detection and risk assessment
- Side Scan Sonars capture detailed acoustic images to identify potential UXO, including partially burried or exposed objects, making it crucial for visualising and classifying UXO risks
- Magnetometers detect ferrous materials and magnetic anomalies linked to burried munitions, enhancing precision in UXO detection
- Sub-bottom Profilers penetrate the seabed to locate buried UXO, providing critical data on depth, size and composition for effective risk mitigation.
Technology is only part of the solution. True risk mitigation requires a holistic approach—one that integrates data-driven insights, expert analysis and proactive planning to minimise uncertainty and maximise safety.
Supporting Safer Offshore Operations
The ocean will continue to be at the forefront of global energy transition, but we cannot build the future without addressing the past.
At Ashtead Technology, we believe that progress is about responsibility. The offshore industry must prioritise collaborative, data-led UXO risk management strategies to ensure safer, more sustainable operations.
As offshore activity increases, UXO risk will only become more prominent. The industry must ask itself:
✔️ Are we investing in the right detection and mitigation strategies?
✔️ Are we prepared for the scale of the UXO challenge ahead?
✔️ How can we work together to turn a historical risk into a future-proofed solution?
Join the conversation. Watch our latest reel below and share your thoughts on how we can navigate this hidden challenge—together.