The MMinE-SWEEPER consortium met in Monaco on 15 September to assess progress during the first half of the project and prepare for the next phase of its work.
The MMinE-SWEEPER consortium met in Monaco on 15 September for its mid-term General Assembly. Most of the project’s 21 partners attended in person, while the remaining partners joined online.
The meeting took place at the Musée Océanographique de Monaco, with which project partner GEOMAR has strong ties. It followed the successful review meeting in July and provided an opportunity to assess progress made during the first half of the project and discuss activities planned for the months ahead.
Partners presented the latest technological developments, some of which were being tested concurrently at the major REPMUS naval exercise in Portugal. A further highlight came from project partner SeaTerra, which announced that the UXTractor, developed within the MMinE-SWEEPER, was ready to enter testing.
The consortium also looked ahead to scientific cruises in Norwegian and UK waters, further webinars and Knowledge Transfer Workshops planned for next year. In addition, partners discussed how MMinE-SWEEPER and the wider Munitions in the Sea community can best support the European Commission in developing an EU strategy for submerged munitions.
The General Assembly also provided an opportunity to discuss support for the recently established Young Munition Researchers Network, a MMinE-SwEEPER initiative created by and for early-career researchers in the field.
Most partners stayed in Monaco for the following two days to contribute to the Munitions in the Sea Symposium and Workshop organized by MMinE-SwEEPER and CAMMera, sharing their expertise and engaging with the wider community working on submerged munitions across the Mediterranean and European Atlantic.
