Switzerland’s Initiative to Retrieve Military Ammunition from Its Lakes
Hiroshi Higuchi/Getty Images
- The Swiss government is incentivizing innovative solutions for the extraction of ammunition from its lakes.
- Between the years 1918 and 1964, various military munitions were disposed of in lakes under the premise that it was a secure method.
- The estimated expenses for any recovery operation could reach billions, according to BBC reports.
Visitors exploring some of Switzerland’s breathtaking lakes might be astonished to discover that a significant quantity of ammunition lies hidden beneath their serene surfaces.
In response to this pressing issue, Swiss authorities are offering financial rewards for ingenious strategies aimed at retrieving these munitions.
A Monetary Incentive for Innovative Recovery Methods
The Federal Office for Defence Procurement (Armasuisse) has launched an initiative with a cash prize totaling 50,000 Swiss Francs (approximately $57,000) designated for the top three proposals submitted during their new idea competition focused on munitions retrieval.
A Troubling Legacy: Historical Context
An official press announcement unveiled that between the years mentioned earlier, an array of military ordnance—including obsolete or surplus ammo and rejected batches—was discarded into various lakes. This disposal was then perceived as environmentally sound.
The majority of these hazardous materials are believed to rest at depths ranging from 150 to 220 meters within key bodies such as Lake Thun, Lake Brienz, and Lake Lucerne. Additionally, around Lake Neuchâtel hosts an estimated total of about 4,500 metric tons, which resulted mainly from extensive bombing practice by the Swiss Air Force over several decades.
The Call for Expertise: Safe Recovery Practices
The Swiss department is now reaching out specifically to academic scholars and professionals across various industries. Their objective is devising methods that promote “eco-friendly and safe recovery operations” due to potential risks involving explosions or contamination in aquatic ecosystems when handling underwater ordnance.
Timetable and Future Prospects
This competition commenced recently with submissions accepted until February 6th, 2025; winners will be announced in April following this deadline. It is important to note that winning proposals are not immediately implemented but will instead guide subsequent research efforts identified by Armasuisse.
The anticipated budget needed for any comprehensive salvage operations could amount significantly beyond initial estimates—a figure estimated in billions according to BBC insights.
