UK UXO Specialists Ordtek Open ‘Aladdin’s Cave’ of Wartime Bomb Maps and Images to Mark Battle of Britain Anniversary.

UK-based Ordtek, a global leader in UXO risk management to the offshore wind industry, today announces the public release of a portfolio of historical military maps and images, painstakingly collated by a team of archivists and unexploded ordnance (UXO) specialists.

As the world accelerates its transition to clean energy, the offshore wind sector faces unique challenges, none more critical than the threat posed by thousands of unexploded bombs and mines scattered across the seabed from past conflicts. These hidden hazards endanger lives, equipment, and the timely delivery of strategically important energy projects. Through its specialist company Ordtek, Venterra provides industry-leading UXO mitigation services to major offshore wind developers, ensuring the safe planning and routing of wind farms and subsea cables that connect offshore energy to the grid. For over a decade, Ordtek’s team of archivists and historians have been building The Vault 2.0, the world’s most extensive database of historical military maps, bomb drop records, minefield charts, and related imagery for the offshore wind industry. This “Aladdin’s Cave” of primary sources and scientific papers includes:

Detailed maps showing where bombs were dropped during WWI and WWII
Ship logs, minesweeping reports, and EOD (explosive ordnance disposal) task records
Research papers and data from over 30 countries
Information drawn from hundreds of local, national, and military archives from all over the world

The publication of this portfolio, is part of a LinkedIn campaign by the communications team at Ordtek, coinciding with the anniversary of the Battle of Britain, a poignant reminder of the lasting impact of 20th-century conflict on today’s infrastructure and communities.

“We are thrilled to share a selection of our historical archive with the public,” said Richard Pike, Managing Director of Ordtek. “The Vault 2.0 is more than a database; it’s a living record of history that directly supports the safety and progress of the energy transition. Most people don’t realise that the work of our archivists, poring over vast maps and bomb sites, is so crucial to deciding where wind turbines can safely be installed. By making some of this information available, we hope to engage not only military historians and enthusiasts, but also local communities eager to learn whether their coasts were affected by wartime bombing and if unexploded ordnance may still lie offshore.”

This campaign is expected to generate interest among historians, researchers, and the general public, especially those curious about the wartime history of their local areas and the ongoing efforts to make offshore energy projects safer.

To view selected maps and images from The Vault 2.0, please follow the Ordtek LinkedIn page at: Ordtek LinkedIn

Media Enquiries:

Rhys Almey, Communications Manager, Ordtek

Stiofain MacDaibhead, Group Director of Communications, Venterra

Ordtek: +44 1379 771943
rhys.almey@venterra-group.com

Venterra: +353 86 3298700
stiofain.macdaibhead@venterra-group.com

Notes to Editors:

Ordtek Limited, Founded in 2012 by UXO Specialist Lee Gooderham, Ordtek provides trusted unexploded ordnance (UXO) risk management services for both land and marine developments. Our expert team utilises geoscience techniques to develop risk mitigation solutions which support the safe, compliant, and efficient delivery of complex projects.

We don’t just assess UXO risk – We are also conscious of how it interacts with both the natural and built environments. This insight enables us to deliver pragmatic solutions that safeguard people, infrastructure, and progress.

We recruit top-tier professionals from military and commercial geophysical backgrounds, all with the relevant qualifications and accreditations. With decades of hands-on experience and a client-focused, independent approach, our team has earned a reputation for excellence and trust. We support critical operations with confidence, care, and an unwavering commitment to the highest standards.

Venterra Group Plc, established in 2021, is a dedicated offshore wind services company supporting the industry’s rapid expansion and leadership in the clean energy transition. Our group brings together highly technical service providers with deep expertise across the planning, construction, and operational phases of the offshore wind farm lifecycle. With a global workforce of over 700 professionals, Venterra delivers services that help reduce project risk, time, and cost. For more information, please visit www.venterra-group.com