Any munitions or ordnance discovered onboard aggregate dredgers or at wharves must be reported in accordance with the principles set out in the guidance ‘Dealing with munitions in marine sediments’ (2010), produced by the British Marine Aggregate Producers Association (BMAPA), the Mineral Products Association (MPA) and The Crown Estate in consultation with the police, Health & Safety Executive (HSE), Maritime & Coastguard Agency (MCA) and Joint Services Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD). View the guidance by clicking on the additional pdf at end of this alert.

The principles contained within this guidance should be embedded within company policies, practices and procedures for every site and vessel where this potential risk exists.

The requirement to report the discovery of munitions through these established procedures over-rides any obligation to report or record them as part of the archaeology reporting protocol that is in place.

There is no such thing as a ‘dud’ – and the fact that an item has been disturbed through the act of dredging does not mean that it is safe. Munitions can be classified as either ‘inert’, ‘live’ or ‘blind’. An item that has been fired and failed to function is considered ‘blind’ and therefore potentially highly dangerous.

• Munitions must never be touched or moved by employees or contractors unless they can be positively identified as being ‘inert’ (i.e. no explosive content) by a Level 1 trained member of staff.
• Any item that cannot be positively identified as ‘inert’ by Level 1 trained staff must be considered dangerous, and should only be handled by suitably qualified EOD professionals.
• It is a criminal offence to remove munitions from a site. It is also a criminal offence to retain munitions on site for more than 24 hours without that site being suitably licensed.
• Munitions should only be photographed and reported through the archaeology reporting protocol once suitably qualified EOD professionals have determined it is safe to do so.

IF YOU DISCOVER ANY MUNITION OR ORDNANCE:

• DO NOT TOUCH

• DO NOT MOVE

• REPORT IN ACCORDANCE WITH COMPANY PROCEDURES