Bijela Shipyard is a highly ranked hot spot type B according to the UNEP/MAP 2015 National Action Plan's ranking methodology. As such, it is also recognized as the first priority NAP measure for the implementation of the LBS Protocol and its Regional Plans in the framework of the SAP-MED with the aim to achieve Good Environmental Status for pollution-related EcAp Ecological Objectives). Therefore, the polluted sediments remediation project in Bijela Shipyard is very significant not only for elimination of pollution from this location but for stopping the spread of negative impacts on the surrounding living species, marine ecosystem, bathing water quality, and ultimately, in view of eliminating a factor which has an adverse impact on the attractiveness of tourism in this part of the Bay of Kotor.
Pollution in Bijela Shipyard is a result of industrial activities. A mixture of different waste fractions (hazardous/non-hazardous) was dumped on the shipyard's mostly unpaved surface: 30,000m (60,000t) of spent iron blasting grit, 2,000t of contaminated municipal waste, some hundred tons of steel scrap, several tons of construction waste, outdated oil and sludge recovery equipment and some dilapidation from hulks of ships. Spent sandblasting grit was classified as hazardous waste, mainly because of its high concentrations of TBT in solid and leachate samples.
Analysis shows that surface of the shipyard is contaminated with toxic metals such as lead, cadmium, chromium, nickel, arsenic, and TBT, originating from the deposited industrial wastes. Also, organic parameters such as PCB and PAH were found to be highly to moderately elevated.
As for sea water quality, it should be mentioned that the average depth of water in the shipyards harbour is about 6m. Only a channel at the northern side of the smaller jetty is 15 to 20m deep. Contaminated waste material (mostly spent sandblasting grit) was partly dumped on the sea floor next to the shipyard. Apparently, most of this material was removed from the sea floor and dumped on-land at the shipyard site. Sediment analyses showed considerable remaining contamination with some compounds (Cu, Ni, Cr, TBT and PAH). At this stage, general design for remediation of the Bijela Shipyard (to be implemented under IWCMP) includes remediation of the soil/subsoil and identified surface waste, but does not include remediation of the pollution identified in the sediment adjacent to the shipyard due to a lack of suitable and reliable set of data (despite the fact that some preliminary analyses have been done already) needed to develop a detailed design for this segment too. Sediment contamination needs to be addressed under a different framework.
Monitoring programme for groundwater, sediment and aquatic fauna (mussels) should be performed during at least five years following remediation. It comprises, at least, bi-annual sampling and analysis of the groundwater (TPH) and of sediments and mussels (TBT, heavy metals).
Therefore, the main objectives of this project proposal are to reduce the identified associated environmental hazards from the polluted sediments adjacent to Bijela Shipyard, and to reduce contamination of Montenegros natural resources and public health risks from exposure to this contamination.