The University of Malta, through its Department of Classics and Archaeology within the Faculty of Arts, has played a pivotal role in an international initiative addressing one of the ocean’s most urgent but often overlooked environmental threats: Potentially Polluting Wrecks (PPWs). These are shipwrecks, primarily dating back to World War I and II, that still contain hazardous substances like oil, munitions, and chemicals, threatening marine ecosystems, coastal communities, and human health.
Project Tangaroa, the global framework for Oceanic Protection, aimed at establishing a coordinated framework for the assessment, intervention, and management of PPWs, was named after Tangaroa, the god of the sea in Māori and Polynesian mythology, the project embodies the spirit of ocean stewardship.
Just as the Project created guidelines to protect the sea and its creatures, this initiative calls for new, binding global commitments to safeguard marine environments from the looming threat of sunken wrecks.
Today, over 8,500 wrecks worldwide are classified as potentially polluting. As climate change accelerates structural decay and as proactive management remains largely absent, these underwater relics pose a ticking environmental time bomb, impacting coastal livelihoods.
A landmark achievement of Project Tangaroa is the Malta Manifesto, a strategic, values-based document published following the third international workshop hosted in Malta.
Co-hosted by Professor Timmy Gambin from the University of Malta in collaboration with Heritage Malta, the event gathered global experts and policymakers to align on key principles for addressing PPWs, such as:
- Prevention Before Crisis - PPWs are far more cost-effective and environmentally responsible than reactive emergency responses
- Global Responsibility, Local Agency – affected communities must lead decision-making
- Global Expertise, Local Knowledge – knowledge is to be always supported by scientific research and data
- Equitable Burden-Sharing – all stakeholders must support mitigation efforts
- Sustainable Solutions – to ensure lasting protection
The co-hosting of the third workshop brought international attention to Malta’s efforts in ‘best practices’ related to the management and protection of Underwater Cultural Heritage.
The university has consistently provided critical expertise in underwater archaeology, risk assessment, and marine heritage management. Its contribution ensured that local knowledge and regional challenges were placed at the centre of global discussions.
Moreover, by hosting the pivotal third workshop in Malta, the university and Heritage Malta helped crystallize the collective global commitment into a tangible, actionable document: the Malta Manifesto. This was not only a symbolic achievement but a substantial milestone in international maritime cooperation.
Looking forward, more international ocean governance and cross-border collaboration, equitable financing and science-based policy, the project will continue to protect ecosystems for future generations.
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