Brimstone’s Record-Breaking Unexploded Ordnance Recoveries

Our explosive ordnance clearance team at the former air weapons range, RAF Cowden, has achieved a record-breaking number of unexploded ordnance (UXO) recoveries during the second year of our contract awarded by the Defence Infrastructure Organisation (DIO).

UXO clearance at RAF Cowden

In February 2021, Brimstone was awarded a contract to clear UXO contamination from Mappleton Beach on the East Yorkshire coast. The site, once a military air weapons range, is now experiencing some of the fastest coastal erosion in Europe. As the coastline recedes, thousands of munitions are being deposited onto the beach from former clifftop target areas.

Our record breaking unexploded ordnance recoveries

To mitigate the ongoing threat, Brimstone has a permanent team of highly trained UXO engineers stationed at the site. These specialists are actively managing the risk by conducting daily recoveries and frequent planned demolitions of discovered ordnance. The goal is to reduce the hazard posed by the estimated 300,000 practice bombs scattered across the area.

Work is progressing rapidly in the second year of this four-year project, with the team achieving remarkable results. In just the first month, recoveries have already reached 32,481 individual UXO items, significantly surpassing last year’s record of 2,682 UXO items within the same period.

Why UXO recovery at RAF Cowden is critical

The presence of UXO at RAF Cowden is a legacy of its time as a military training site, where thousands of bombs were dropped during live-fire exercises. As erosion exposes these munitions, they pose an increasing risk to the public, local wildlife, and the environment. Our work at Mappleton Beach ensures the area remains as safe as possible for those who visit and live nearby.

Government-assured UXO contractors

Brimstone is the UK’s only government-assured explosive ordnance clearance and conventional munitions disposal contractor. We provide expert UXO risk management services across various sectors, including construction, infrastructure, and coastal erosion projects.

If you require UXO support but are unsure of how we can best assist you, use our online service selection tool to find the right solution for your needs. Alternatively, you can contact us directly via our website for expert advice.

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