On May 3 roughly 15 warships from Denmark, Norway, the Netherlands, Belgium, UK, Germany, Latvia, Poland, France, and Turkey will moor at Klaipėda Seaport. The majority of them are sailing in to take part in international maritime operation Open Spirit, the largest exercise so far organised by the Lithuanian Navy this year. Lithuanian warship will also participate in the exercise.
The international operation is aimed at clearing the Baltic seafloor of naval mines remaining from World War I and World War II and that way minimise the threat to maritime navigation, fishery, and other economic activities, as well as to improve the ecological condition of the Baltic Sea. Approximately 55 thousand naval mines and 7.5 thousand other obstacles have been planted in the Baltic Sea during the First World War, and approximately 95 thousand naval mines and nearly 16 thousand various obstacles - during World War II. Over 80 thousand of the naval mines are estimated to be still under the water and posing a great threat. In 2005 Belgian fishermen caught a mine in their nets in the North Sea - four people were killed as it exploded. It is not the only fatal accident of that kind.
"Ships that will be ensuring protection of the Standing NATO Mine Countermeasures Group during Open Spirit in Klaipėda have been piered at the Warship and Cruise Ship Terminal since April 25. The exercise will not disrupt daily seaport activities, civilian lives or tourism. The event is co-organised by the Lithuanian Navy and the NATO Centre of Excellence for Operations in Confined and Shallow Waters, it also is attended by soldiers of the German Naval Force Protection Battalion and the Bundeswehr Research Institute," said Cdr Tadas Jablonskis, Staff Officer for Operational Requirements at the NATO Centre of Excellence for Operations in Confined and Shallow Waters.
During the visit of the ships the Public and Military Unity Day will take place at the Warship and Cruise Ship Terminal in Klaipėda on May 4 from 1100hrs to 1700hrs.
More on seaport security exercise
"Port protection modules are equipped with sensors for detecting divers, mobile radars, electro-optical equipment, other sensors, and C2 equipment. Such modules can be place onboard in any port, a friendly port or a port without infrastructure. The exercise trains Lithuanian Navy personnel to coordinate deployment of allied forces, to counter threats from the air (UAVs), water and land," Cdr Tadas Jablonskis said.
The operation comprises 6 stages. The first three are preparations for port control interception in specific areas. The module is in operation independently since April 27 ensuring security of the port from the Warship and Cruise Ship Terminal. Lithuanian Navy personnel are training up to May 1 and on May preparations to host the foreign participants of Open Spirit will begin. The port security exercise will end on May 14, DV Day.
Information by the Lithuanian Navy
