Maritime phase of the international mine clearance exercise „Open Spirit 2010" that began on August 30 is in progress. On August 31 „L'aigle" of the French Naval Forces joined the operation, all the 16 ships planned to take part in the exercise and three underwater teams carry out intense activities in the region of „Open Spirit 2010" operation looking for naval mines remaining from WWI, WWII and the postwar period on the Baltic seafloor.
Belgian „Aster" and Polish „Flaming" mine hunters and sweepers reported a mine anchor of a WWII-dated German naval mine each. (A mine anchor is carriage that is dumped from a ship together with the mine that serves as a mine's anchor once it has reached the seafloor.)
General area of the „Open Spirit 2010" exercise operations covers 350 square nautical miles (1 nautical mile corresponds to 1852 m). Depth of waters in the operation area ranges from 30 to 60 metres.
Ships and underwater teams participating in the exercise are grouped into four multinational units led by two officers of the Lithuanian Naval Force, one Norwegian and one Estonian officer.
Final results of the operation, area of seafloor cleared, and the number of mines and other ammunition detected and neutralized in the sea will be announced after the conclusion of the exercise.
Lithuanian Naval Force organises multinational mine countermeasures operation „Open Spirit 2010" in the territorial waters and exclusive economic zone of Lithuania in the Baltic Sea from August 28 to September 8.
The aim of „Open Spirit 2010" is to reduce the threat caused to safe navigation by naval mines and other unexploded ammunition remaining on the Baltic seafloor from WWI and WWII. The event also boosts trust and cooperation among participating countries, and improves skills of participating ship crews, staff officers and leadership.
Ten countries - Belgium, Estonia, Latvia, Poland, Lithuania, Norway, France, Russia, Finland and Germany - sent sixteen warships and three underwater teams to take part in the exercise. Lithuania is represented by three ships - mine hunter and sweeper „Sūduvis" (M52) and patrol ships „Žemaitis" (P11) and „Aukštaitis" (P14).
Information for media
EVENTS. Media opportunities will be provided during the following events of the exercise „Open Spirit 2010":
Tuesday, September 7
Two media opportunities:
1. 8.00-15.00 departure of LNF mine hunter and sweeper M52 „Sūduvis" takes the sea. Program: cast off from the Cruiser and Warship pier, briefing on the progress of „Open Spirit 2010" mine countermeasures operation, demonstration operations of mine hunting, neutralisation of a naval mine, helicopter evacuation from operation onboard a ship, ships passing each other ship formation, transportation of media representatives in a speedboat to a guest ship, mooring at the Cruiser and Warship Terminal.
Or
2. 9.15-9.30 hrs presentation of „Open Spirit 2010" mine countermeasures operation at the Staff of the Lithuanian Naval Force (N. Uosto Str. 24, Klaipėda). Time to interview participants of the guests day and leadership of the exercise from 9.30 to 09.45 hrs.
REGISTRATION
Media representatives who wish to participate in the events on September 7 are invited to register before September 3 at the LNF Staff at 00370 46 391 207, cell phone 00370 698 18 196 (PR Officer Lt (N) Antanas Brencius) or e-mail antanas.brencius@milyou're your choice event, name, represented media, and contacts will be required for registration.
To enter the eve
nt on September 7 press pass and personal ID will be required, foreign reporters will be asked to present accreditation from the Lithuanian Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Foreign reporters not in possession of MoFA accreditation will be asked to present temporary pass to the LAF units issued by the MoND Public Relations Department. To receive the pass foreigner reporters are to send filled-in application and copies of ID card or press pass to MoND Public Relations Department before September 1 (e-mail vis@kam.lt or fax. no 00370 5 2785 245). For queries contact Public Information Division of the Public Relations Department, phone.: 00370 5 273 5517, 00370 5 273 5519.
For more information regarding media opportunities of the training event may contact PR Officer Lt (N) Antanas Brencius, phone 00370 46 391 207, cell phone 00370 698 18 196.
MoND photography archive.