International Technology Advisory Board (ITAB) on Sea Dumped Weapons (SDW's)

What International Technology Advisory Board (ITAB) on Sea Dumped Weapons (SDW's) does

International Dialogue on Underwater Munitions (IDUM), operating through its International Technology Advisory Board (ITAB) on Sea Dumped Weapons (SDW's), is a non-governmental organization founded in Canada in 2004 by Terrance Long, a former commissioned United Nations Officer and retired Canadian Military Engineer specializing in Explosive Ordnance Disposal, and re-established as a Dutch Foundation in The Hague in 2014. IDUM's mission is to promote an internationally binding treaty covering all classes of underwater munitions (biological, chemical, conventional, and radiological) and to drive their cleanup from the world's seas and oceans. The organization coordinates a portfolio of scientific and policy programs — CHEMSEA, MODUM, DAIMON, SEADETOX, and the Pentarius Deep Sub Project — that deploy autonomous underwater vehicles equipped with side-scan sonar, 3-D seabed imaging, and chemical weapons detection systems to map and monitor dump sites. IDUM holds Observer status at the International Seabed Authority, OSPAR Commission, and Helsinki Commission, and works in partnership with the OPCW, UNEP, NATO Science for Peace and Security Programme, and the U.S. CDC.

IDUM's business model is that of a non-profit policy and convening organization rather than a commercial enterprise. It has 5 employees across offices in The Hague, Netherlands, and Leitches Creek, Nova Scotia, and generates no disclosed commercial revenue. Funding flows from project grants tied to the EU- and NATO-funded scientific consortia in which IDUM serves as an Associated Partner and Work Package Leader, supplemented by a sponsorship program and donor contributions routed through underwatermunitions.org. The primary customer segment is international organizations and government bodies — UN agencies, treaty commissions, national military and environmental agencies — which IDUM serves through international dialogues, conferences, working groups, and direct engagement at OPCW, UN, OSPAR, and Helsinki Commission fora. The organization also operates a global database of underwater weapons sites as a public-good information resource and has announced a proposed International Marine Training Centre to be sited in Canada and the Netherlands to deliver training on marine surveys, recovery, and disposal.

Name

International Technology Advisory Board (ITAB) on Sea Dumped Weapons (SDW's)

Legal name

International Dialogue on Underwater Munitions

Website

https://underwatermunitions.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2004

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

IDUM is a non-governmental organization founded in 2004 and based in The Hague, Netherlands, that coordinates international policy, science, and cleanup efforts aimed at eradicating chemical, conventional, and radiological munitions from the world's seas and oceans. It serves UN agencies, treaty commissions, and national governments through dialogues, scientific consortia, and a global database of underwater weapons sites.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Marine Environmental Policy Advocacy

NAICS

International Affairs (92812)

SIC

International Affairs (9721)

akta.pro primary industry

Mine Action & Explosive Ordnance Risk Reduction (EOD/ERW) (BPADAFAH)

akta.pro secondary industries

Peace, Security & Arms Control Organizations (BPADAAAF), Demilitarization, Disposal & Ordnance Remediation (EOD Support) (IMABAHAM), Mine Action & Explosive Ordnance Risk Education (EORE) (BPADADAM)

Keywords

• Underwater munitions policy
• Marine environmental advocacy
• Chemical weapons treaty
• Seabed remediation research
• Ocean contamination cleanup

Headquarters

HQ city

The Hague

HQ country

Netherlands

HQ region

Europe

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

IDUM is a non-governmental organization that convenes international stakeholders to promote a globally binding treaty on all classes of underwater munitions (biological, chemical, conventional, and radiological). The organization coordinates collaborative scientific research projects on munitions detection, mapping, and cleanup, and serves as the global focal point for underwater munitions policy, science, technology, and responses through international dialogues and partnerships with bodies such as OPCW, UNEP, OSPAR, and Helsinki Commission.

Product overview

International Dialogue on Underwater Munitions (IDUM) is a non-governmental organization (NGO) founded in 2004 and based in The Hague, Netherlands. IDUM is not a technology product company but rather a policy and advocacy organization focused on promoting an internationally binding treaty on all classes of underwater munitions (biological, chemical, conventional, and radiological). The organization operates through international dialogues, scientific research collaborations (CHEMSEA, MODUM, DAIMON, SEADETOX, Pentarius), and advocacy efforts at the United Nations and international bodies like OPCW, OSPAR, and Helsinki Commissions. IDUM serves as a global focal point for underwater munitions policy, science, technology, and responses, working to eradicate chemical, conventional and radiological munitions from world waters.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Global Database of Underwater Weapons Sites A comprehensive global database and regional maps of underwater munitions sites maintained by IDUM for the exchange of information, supporting policy development and cleanup efforts worldwide. The database documents thousands of dump sites across the North-East Atlantic, Baltic Sea, North American coasts, and other regions.
• CHEMSEA Project (Search and Assessment of Chemical Weapons Baltic Sea) An EU-funded collaborative international scientific program focused on the search and assessment of chemical weapons in the Baltic Sea, in which IDUM serves as Associated Partner and Work Package Leader.
• MODUM Project (Towards the Monitoring of Dumped Munitions Threat) A multi-year NATO Science for Peace and Security research project focused on mapping munition dump sites in the Baltic Sea, in which IDUM serves as Associated Partner and Work Package Leader.
• DAIMON Project (Decision Aid for Marine Munitions) A collaborative international scientific program that provides decision-aid tools for marine munitions assessment and response, in which IDUM serves as Associated Partner and Co-Director.
• SEADETOX Project An international scientific program focused on underwater munitions cleanup and detoxification efforts, in which IDUM participates.
• Pentarius Deep Sub Project A deep sea research and investigation initiative for underwater munitions detection and assessment.

Segments1 record

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature1 record

Partnerships

Eleven partnerships are on record, tiered core and moderate.

• Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerIDUM has a strategic partnership with OPCW, having chaired side event sessions on Sea Dumped Chemical Weapons during the Third Review Conference of State Parties. IDUM helped secure inclusion of sea-dump munitions language in the Chemical Weapons Convention (CWC) and obtained a three-page working document and complete paragraph on the issue.
• United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerIDUM provides a voluntary commitment to UNEP Oceans Conference as a global focal point on underwater munitions Policy, Science, Technology, and Responses. Established action plan based on commitment #OceanAction21356 for International Marine Training Centre.
• International Seabed Authority (ISA)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerIDUM holds Observer status to the International Seabed Authority for Law of the Sea.
• OSPAR CommissioncoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerIDUM is Observer to OSPAR Commission for the Protection of the North-East Atlantic Ocean. OSPAR Protected Area contains 1700+ underwater weapons sites.
• Helsinki CommissioncoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerIDUM holds Observer status to Helsinki Commission for the Protection of the Baltic Sea.
• NATO Science for Peace and Security (SPS) ProgrammecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerIDUM is active as Associated Partner and Work Package Leader for MODUM (Towards the Monitoring of Dumped Munitions Threat) project supported by NATO SPS Programme.
• Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) - Atlanta GeorgiacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerIDUM Chairman serves as Chairman of Expert Panel Sea Dumped Chemical Weapons Human Health and Environment at CDC.
• CHEMSEA ConsortiumcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerEU-funded program (Search and Assessment of Chemical Weapons Baltic Sea). IDUM serves as Associated Partner.
• DAIMON ProjectcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerDecision Aid for Marine Munitions project. IDUM serves as Associated Partner and Co-Director.
• Polish Naval Academy Marine Security YearbookmoderateStrategic or Co-development PartnerIDUM Chairman serves on Scientific Committee of the Polish Naval Academy Marine Security Yearbook.
• Lithuania and PolandcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCo-hosted international event with IDUM to discuss sea-dump munitions with delegations from around the world, including countries not aware they had munitions in their oceans.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Direct peers

• Norwegian People's Aid (NPA): Operates humanitarian disarmament and mine action programs including underwater munitions work in the Baltic; direct peer to IDUM in EOD coordination, mine risk education, and policy advocacy on sea-dumped weapons.
• Mines Advisory Group (MAG): International NGO delivering mine action and weapons clearance in conflict-affected states; comparable to IDUM as a peer NGO operating in EOD/ERW and advocating for international policy on explosive hazards.
• HALO Trust: World's largest humanitarian mine action organization operating in EOD/ERW clearance, directly comparable to IDUM's mine action and explosive ordnance risk reduction mission though focused on landmines rather than underwater munitions.
• Geneva International Centre for Humanitarian Demining (GICHD): International centre of excellence providing policy, research, and operational support for mine action; comparable to IDUM as a peer policy/research hub within the same mine action and explosive ordnance risk reduction ecosystem.
• Marshall Legacy Institute: NGO supporting mine detection dog programs, survivor assistance, and public awareness on unexploded ordnance; comparable to IDUM as a smaller peer NGO in mine action advocacy, education, and international cooperation on explosive hazards.

Emerging players

• APOPO: NGO deploying innovative detection technologies (including rats) for landmines and TB; thematically comparable to IDUM as an NGO innovating in detection/clearance technology for explosive ordnance hazards.
• Fenix Insight: Develops advanced sensor and data products for landmine and unexploded ordnance detection; adjacent to IDUM as a commercial EOD technology innovator operating in the same ordnance detection and remediation ecosystem.

Broad incumbents

• Battelle Memorial Institute: Large R&D nonprofit with extensive underwater munitions detection, assessment, and remediation programs (e.g., in US coastal waters); comparable to IDUM as a technical operator in underwater munitions remediation, but with vastly greater scale and resources.
• Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW): Implementing body for the Chemical Weapons Convention where IDUM has obtained language inclusion and side event chairmanships; broader international affairs incumbent operating in the same chemical weapons policy and arms control space.
• UNMAS (United Nations Mine Action Service): UN system focal point for mine action coordinating policy and response across the UN; comparable to IDUM as a higher-level policy and coordination body in the same international mine action and explosive hazard reduction space.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/idum__
• Facebookfacebook.com/UnderwaterMunitions
• Instagraminstagram.com/idum__
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/international-technology-advisory-board-itab-on-sea-dumped-weapons-sdw-s

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about International Technology Advisory Board (ITAB) on Sea Dumped Weapons (SDW's)