Join the premier industry-recognised education programme for risk management of unexploded ordnance in offshore development sites.

This education programme aims to inform a wide range of personnel about the methods and equipment used to mitigate seabed remnants of war. 

Understanding the risks posed by remnants of war to offshore energy development requires an inquisitive mind, an accumulation of practical understanding, the application of knowledge, and the ability to accurately communicate observations. There are various methods used by expert technicians to lower or remove these risks which need to be fully understood by those approving and witnessing the neutralisation operations.

Consequently, the UXO education programme is designed to combine these elements and help the candidate understand the requirements for a wide range of situations they may encounter

  • Topic: UXO – Explosive Remnants of War - Specialist Course

  • Estimated study time: More than 6 hours of self-paced studies, to be completed within 17 weeks of enrolment

  • Price: € 495, ex. VAT*

  • Language: English

  • Instructors:
    Chris Weaver - Senior Instructor
    Martin Warming - RECOA Founder & Managing Partner

  • * VAT is subject to Student and/or Clients country of registry. VAT exemptions may apply .

What is this course about?

Take a look inside

Learning Goals

When you have finished this course ...

  • Technical Knowledge

    You will understand how different explosive weapons work and the methods used to locate and assess the risk from unexploded ordnance (UXO)

  • Risk Reduction

    You will be aware of the complex risks from unexploded weapons encountered during offshore development operations and the mitigation methods commonly used.

  • Documentation

    You will understand the procedures & documentation required for UXO clearance operations and the importance of Sign-Off Certificates issued before the main construction work can begin.

Hear what our alumnis have to say

"What I found most valuable in the course was the application of the practical GIS map for a planned Offshore Wind Farm and associated offshore export and array cables"

Dean Dalton

The UXO course was especially helpful for me in my professional development as an Offshore Cable Installation Client Representative. What I found most valuable in the course was the application of the practical GIS map for a planned Offshore Wind Farm and associated offshore export and array cables. I would highly recommend the course due to the double value of both the UXO and GIS lessons.

"The course is well structured, with detailed material, clear presentations, and tests of knowledge at the end of each chapter"

Sabina Melandri

My feedback is very positive. The course is well structured, with detailed material, clear presentations, and tests of knowledge at the end of each chapter. I've enhanced my skill set, especially with the first module (categories of explosives, mechanism of underwater explosion, artillery munitions, etc.) and the items of the second one that are closer to my qualifications.

"It is the best awareness/guidance training for building a thorough knowledge on challenges relating to UXO/ERW operations in the commercial domain"

Gordon Foot

This course is excellent value for money. More importantly, in my opinion, it is the best awareness/guidance training for building a thorough knowledge on challenges relating to UXO/ERW operations in the commercial domain outside military training and I fully recommend it.

The UXO Course is for you if you can say yes to at least one of the following ...

  • I am involved in managing subsea construction operations

  • I have experience as an Offshore Client Representative.

  • I am an experienced offshore or maritime professional.

  • I am involved in geophysical or hydrographic surveying

  • I am a technical graduate who wants to progress further in an offshore career

  • I am a professional Environmental Observer, Marine Mammal Observer, or other stakeholder representative

About the UXO Specialist Course

Unexploded ordnance poses a significant risk in many parts of the world, and the safe neutralisation of munitions found within the subsea development areas where offshore renewables are being installed is essential before any seabed construction work can begin.

Industry experts will conduct the physical neutralisation processes, but a wide range of management and support personnel will also be involved in decision-making to reduce the risk to As Low As Reasonably Practicable (ALARP).

Throughout the process, there will be options to redesign the essential assets to avoid the risk or to deal with the neutralisation at the site, but some mitigation methods may be unacceptable to other stakeholders. Consequently, Developers, Contractors and Stakeholders must be aware of the options available to reduce risks to an acceptable level

Bundle includes

This course is divided into 3 parts

What is included in the course

High quality videos and
tailor made knowledge
directly from our industry expert
High Quality Video lessons
Interactive Presentations
and Quizzes to test your knowledge
Interactive Lessons & Quizzes
Illustration of the current methodologies
for UXO mitigation
Illustration & Case Studies
Terminology commonly used in UXO operations
Common UXO Terminology
After passing the final exam,
you will receive a digital,
printable certificate
Certificate of Completion
Where you can network with other professionals,
get updates on events and job hires.
Student Community

The Course Broadly Covers

  1. Which different types of UXO could be encountered
  2. Risks involved with remnants of war
  3. The analytical approach used to determine risks
  4. Various stages of seabed UXO mitigation
  5. Sensors and tools used to find UXOs
  6. Documentation associated with UXO mitigation
  7. Methods to locate and dispose of explosive remnants of war
  8. Potential effects of UXO disposal on various marine creatures


What You Can Expect

This education package is presented in two separate modules, each about 3 hours long. We have focused on offshore wind farm sites and subsea cable routes in this current version, but much of the content is equally pertinent to developers planning and installing other subsea infrastructure such as pipelines.

This course will certainly not teach you how to disarm unexploded ammunition – that specialist work is undertaken by expert personnel, many of whom have had long careers in the military; but you will gain a detailed insight into how it’s done.

Our aim is to supply the background information so that onshore management teams, offshore representatives, vessel managers and surveyors understand how the work will be conducted and where they will interface closely with the UXO experts. 

There are a surprising number of different weapons scattered on the seabed, and in some locations, their abundance can be daunting. Construction noise is one of the greatest concerns during offshore development work, and the neutralisation of seabed UXOs using explosive charges can cause permanent damage to many creatures. During the course, we’ll also be examining alternative, quieter render safe methods that have now been successfully introduced.

Instructor(s)

Senior Instructor, RECOA Chris Weaver

Chris Weaver has more than 40 years of seagoing experience, beginning as a marine science student aboard a research vessel in the mid-1970s. His early career included serving in the British Royal Navy as a seaman officer, later specialising as a hydrographic surveyor. He then worked on subsea projects for Shell, BP, Total, ENI, and other smaller oil and gas operators before becoming a shipboard project manager for Alcatel Submarine Networks. Between 2006 and 2016, Chris was involved in various West African oil field projects, managing offshore construction and maintenance work in Côte d’Ivoire, Gabon, and Ghana during the winter, and power cable installation at various European offshore wind farms during the summer months. Chris became involved in training in 2014 when he designed the Renewables Offshore Client Representative course and presented it as classroom training in the UK over the following four years. He has a long association with Martin Schnoor Warming, founder of the Renewable Construction Academy, and they have collaborated on various renewable projects since 2010.

Founder & Senior Instructor, RECOA Martin Warming

Martin Schnoor Warming is the leading founder of the Renewable Construction Academy. In addition to his background as a Master Mariner and Marine Engineer, he has extensive marine and offshore construction experience, accumulated over more than 15 years in the maritime, oil and gas, and renewable sectors. Since 2008, he has been managing offshore wind and renewable projects for cable installation contractors, survey companies, utility companies, and leading offshore wind farm developers. For the past 10 years, Martin has served as a Senior Consultant in the offshore renewable industry. In 2013, he founded RE-CON MANAGEMENT, a consultancy offering management and advisory services to top offshore wind developers and insurance companies in offshore construction, subsea engineering, subsea cables, and project management. To date, Martin has provided consultancy and been involved in the design, engineering, construction, and surveying of subsea power cable circuits, supporting more than 10,800 MW of offshore wind capacity.