There are over 1200 potentially polluting shipwrecks (PPW) in the Pacific Ocean, many from World War II.
Chuuk Lagoon in the Federated States of Micronesia (FSM) contains the largest concentration of potentially polluting wrecks in the Pacific Ocean, 19 of which have been identified as posing significant environmental risks due to the volumes of toxic fuel oil and unexploded ordnance they hold.
The Australian Government is partnering with the Secretariat of the Pacific Regional Environment Programme (SPREP) and the Major Projects Foundation (MPF) to enhance existing efforts to address the risks to human health and safety, and to the environmental and economic security of nearby Chuuk communities, posed by the oil spills.
The Australian Government has committed AUD$2.12 million (US$1.5 million) to complement work underway by the Government of Japan through the Japanese Mine Action Service to remove oil from the high-risk wrecks in Chuuk Lagoon. It will also support SPREP and MPF to provide technical expertise and equipment.