In Poland, 5 mines near LNG terminal in Świnoujście to be neutralized — RMF24

In Poland’s Świnoujście, five British aerial mines from World War II, discovered in the waters of Pomeranian Bay about one kilometre from the LNG terminal, will be neutralized from October 5 to 8. This was reported by RMF24.

The work will last four days

The clearing of the water area will begin on the morning of October 5 and continue until October 8. Mine-clearance divers from the 12th Minesweeper Division will be involved in the operation. According to Poland’s 8th Coastal Defence Flotilla, specialists will burn out and detonate the charges.

The total weight of the discovered munitions is nearly 3,500 kg. They lie at a depth of around 10 metres. Grzegorz Lewandowski, a representative of the 8th Coastal Defence Flotilla, said these are British Mark IV, Mark V and Mark VI aerial mines. Each has a cylindrical shape, is about three metres long and contains between 350 and 550 kg of explosive material. The combined TNT equivalent of the five objects is estimated at about 2,500 kg.

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Restrictions on the water and beaches

During the operation, safety zones and shipping restrictions will be in place in the waters of Pomeranian Bay. The restrictions will also apply to municipal beaches along the stretch from Germany’s Ahlbeck through Świnoujście to Międzyzdroje. The beaches will remain open for walks, but visitors will be prohibited from entering the water and engaging in water sports.

The mines were found during work commissioned by the Maritime Office in Szczecin in the area where a port breakwater is being built. According to Lewandowski, such munitions were dropped from aircraft to mine port entrances.