On May 11 through 26 Lithuanian mine countermeasures ship "Kuršis" (M54) at the command of Lt Cdr Tadas Jablonskis takes part in the multinational naval mine detection and clearance exercise "Open Spirit 2012" held in the territorial waters of Estonia.
Lithuanian warship "Kuršis" is involved in the exercise together with 18 warships and 4 diving teams from 11 countries: Belgium, Estonia, USA, Canada, Latvia, Poland, Norway, the Netherlands, France, Sweden and Germany.
The key aims of the exercise are to reduce the danger caused by naval mines and other ammunition remaining on the Baltic seafloor from World War I, World War II and the post-war period to fishery and navigation, to enhance cooperation among the naval forces of the participating countries as well as their interoperability.
Crew of "Kuršis" will use sonar during the multinational exercise "Open Spirit 2012" to survey seafloor, search for mines and other types of explosives, and will destroy once they are found and identified using modern robots, a part of the ships equipment.
Ship "Kuršis" (M54) of the Lithuanian Navy (LITHNAVY) has been assigned for a half-year service with the Baltic Naval Squadron (BALTRON) and takes part in "Open Spirit 2012" together with a Latvian warship "Virsaitis" (A53) also assigned to BALTRON.
The Baltic warship unit BALTRON was established in 1998, it comprises ships of the Lithuanian, Estonian and Latvian navies assigned to the unit and an international staff manned by representatives of the Baltic countries. One of the main aims of BALTRON is detection and destruction of mines and other undetonated ammunition remaining from World War II and World War II on the Baltic seafloor. Experience of duty in BALTRON is also valuable for preparation for duty in the Standing NATO Mine Countermeasures Group.
Multinational seafloor mine clearance exercise "Open Spirit" has been held since 1998 annually in one of the Baltic States.
Last time "Open Spirit 2012" took place in the territorial waters and exclusive economic zone of Lithuania in the Baltic Sea in 2010. Then warships and diving teams from 10 states explored more than 85 square naval miles of the Baltic seafloor, detected and neutralized 7 explosives (including several naval mines, a torpedo, a depth bomb, etc.), detected and handed over for marking in seafloor charts more than 30 naval mine anchors and 187 other objects.
POC - LITHNAVY CIMIC Representative Lt (N) ANtanas Brencius
Photo by LITHNAVY
