It is estimated that around 75 thousand mines were places in the Baltic Sea during the two World Wars. An unknown number of those is still there.
The annual historical ordnance disposal operation, named Open Spirit, is scheduled to take place off Estonia this year in an effort to search the sea bed and clear as many underwater explosives as possible.
Swedish Navy, along with other nations, will once again be involved in this operation which will focus on the Eastern Baltic. On May 13 Sweden sent its mine countermeasures vessel HMS Sturkö M14 to Estonia. The vessel will be joined HMS Kullen and an EOD (Explosive Ordnance Disposal) team from the Fourth Naval Warfare Flotilla.
Open Spirit 2015 will start this weekend in Tallinn, Estonia, where the vessels which will be conducting the operation are expected to meet.
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Naval Today Staff, Image: Swedish Navy