Bomb disposal unit begins removal of WWII sea mines off Belgian coast
Off the coast of Wenduine, the Explosive Ordnance Disposal and Destruction Service (DOVO) and grid operator Elia Group have begun the safe removal of twelve German sea mines dating from the Second World War. The mines lie on the seabed along the planned cable route that will carry green electricity from the Princess Elisabeth energy island to Zeebrugge.
Around 55 kilometres of electricity cables will be laid at sea to transport renewable energy from the island to the mainland. Scans along the route revealed twelve so-called Küsten mines, which weigh about one tonne and contain roughly 50 kilograms of explosives, enough to severely damage or even sink a landing craft. With the cable works approaching, the mines must be removed for safety reasons.
The first sea mine was towed ashore on Monday, followed by a second on Tuesday. Divers first locate the mine and secure it with an anchor. In a second dive they attach fastening equipment. The divers then fix an inflatable lifting balloon to the mine, allowing it to be raised from the seabed and towed to the beach.
Controlled explosion
"Such a mine consists of a concrete block containing the explosives and a booster, an amplifier for the detonator," explained Jacques Callebaut of DOVO. "Sometimes the mine is empty, sometimes the detonator is still in it. In other cases, only the explosives remain. Depending on this, we decide whether to destroy them on site or remove them."
On Tuesday, bomb disposal experts inspected the device and confirmed that the detonator was missing. However, the booster charge remained, which could cause the device to explode if it was exposed to excessive shock or friction. The team therefore detonated the booster, which triggered a small explosion.
The plan is to remove one mine a day, until 16 March. Weather conditions may disrupt the schedule. From Wednesday onwards, stronger winds are forecast and currents could become too strong to carry out the operation. As a result, the timetable may change significantly and no additional mines may be removed for the rest of the week.
#FlandersNewsService | © BELGA PHOTO NICOLAS MAETERLINCK
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