north.io's AI Tool Revolutionises Wreck Risk Assessment in the North Sea

There are an estimated 10,000 wrecks in the North Sea. Among them are 700 warships from the World Wars, many of which are still loaded with live ammunition and pose a threat to people and the environment. 
Thanks to the North Sea Wrecks (NSW) project, now completed after 4.5 years of intensive work, this danger has been tackled for the first time. Veteran journalist and filmmaker Frido Essen followed the NSW team of scientists from across Europe as they investigated 15 wrecks in the German, Belgian, Danish and Dutch North Sea, producing a powerful documentary for the European cultural channel ARTE. 

                                      Watch the documentary here with English subtitles

Thanks to the collaboration of nine organisations from five countries and funding from the European Union's Interreg Europe North Sea Programme, the North Sea Wrecks project is helping to gain important knowledge about the dangers of war wrecks and their munitions, chemicals such as TNT, and fuels in the water.

Screenshot of the North Sea Wrecks software developed by north.io

As a partner in the project, north.io has developed innovative software that uses artificial intelligence to accurately calculate the danger that each individual wreck may pose in the future.

This analysis allows authorities and other scientists to manage wreck data, conduct risk assessments, and prioritise clean-up efforts.

"While the cleanup of these hundreds of wrecks is a generational task, we have now developed the first technology together with the researchers that will allow us to start," says Jann Wendt, CEO of north.io GmbH.

He emphasises the importance of this instrument for the protection of the environment and the marine food chain:

"It is important that our software application now helps to improve the protection of the environment and the marine food chain."

Jann Wendt explains the North Sea Wrecks tool.

You can watch the full documentary documentary in German or French on the ARTE website or watch in the window above for a version with English subtitles. 

                              The photo and film rights are held by ARTE.