Unexploded ordnance in Świnoujście. The diver-miners finished ahead of time
Quick Look
- Five sea mines from World War II with a total explosive charge of 2.5 tons were neutralized in Świnoujście.
- The operation carried out using the deflagration method was a success thanks to good weather and the cooperation of residents and tourists.
- During the operation, it was strictly forbidden to enter the water.
AI-generated summary
Why It Matters
More than 80 years have passed since the end of World War II, during which numerous unexploded bombs were left in the Baltic Sea. Naval mines from this period still pose a threat to shipping, fishing and coastal recreation.
Good weather and cooperation from residents and tourists helped the action to end quickly. During the operations, it was strictly forbidden to enter the water.
If someone entered the Baltic Sea at that time, the services would have to stop working. The charges were neutralized by the deflagration method, which allows part of the TNT to be burned under water without detonation.
From land - as RMF FM reporter Anna Pałamar reported - walkers could only see ships. There were no spectacular water columns. A total of five sea mines with a total explosive load of 2.5 tons were neutralized.
"It was a complicated operation, because each of them contained hundreds of kilograms of explosive material. The objects were found on the construction site of the container port in Świnoujście. Despite the passage of over 80 years, they still constituted a threat," wrote the head of the Ministry of National Defense, Władysław Kosiniak-Kamysz.
Open Questions
- Could there be more unexploded ordnance in the aquarium of the container port in Świnoujście?
- What are the long-term plans for monitoring and cleaning port areas from war remnants?
