On May 25 the international operation for hunting and sweeping unexploded ammunition in the Baltic Sea, Open Spirit 23, wrapped. It is a series of training events of Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia to clear their Baltic seafloor territory off remnant naval mines and other unexploded ordnance since World War I and II with assistance of international partners. This year it is held in the territorial waters and exclusive economic zone of Latvia.
The crew of the Lithuanian Navy minehunter vessel vetted over 100 underwater contacts which resulted in detection of six WWI and WWII naval mines. The Lithuanian vessel which currently sails as part of BALTRON found over 20 anchors. In total, Open Spirit 23 resulted in neutralization of 50 naval mines. Ships conducting the operation were assisted by the EOD Diving Team of the Lithuanian Navy’s Harbor and Littoral Waters Defence Service
Ten ships conduct the operation on behalf of Lithuania, Latvia, Estonia, Germany and NATO Allied maritime demining task group TG 441.03. The ships are supported by EOD divers from Lithuania, Latvia, Belgium, United Kingdom, United States and Estonia. The mine countermeasures decrease risks to sea navigation, fishing and other economic activities in the Baltic Sea. Open Spirit has been conducted on a rotational basis in the three Baltic states annually since 1997. Over 1.6 naval mines were laid in the contemporary territorial waters and exclusive economic zone of Lithuania in the Baltic Sea in 15 mine fields in the periods of World War I and World War II.
BALTRON, Baltic Naval Squadron, was established in 1998. It is currently formed by Lithuanian and Latvian warships and international staff of two countries’ representatives. Estonia withdrew its assets from BALTRON in 2015, however, it continues the cooperation with the two Baltic neighbors and the NATO Allied Mine Countermeasures Task Group TG 441.03. The Baltic Naval Squadron is a rapid response unit of the Baltic Navies whose one of the primary tasks is to conduct clearance operations to get rid of naval mines and other unexploded ammunition remaining in the Baltic Sea since WWI and WWII. The unit also serves as a platform of building readiness for NATO operations.
Info credit: Lithuanian Navy
