Baltic Navies Practice Mine Hunting
Two Estonian minehunter vessels, Ugandi and Sakala, together with the Latvian Visvaldis, are taking part in a mine sweeping exercise from May 17 to 19.
Off the coast of Kunda, navies from the three Baltic states, including conscripts and students from Latvia's naval school, are tracking down practice explosives.
The Baltic Sea is one of the most mine-infested bodies of water in the world.
The Estonian Navy set sail for its most recent mine sweeping operation in April, off the northwestern coast. During the week-long operation, the Navy combed 10 square miles and disarmed five mines.
Although 700 sea mines have been found since 1994, Estonian waters are still festering with them - around 80,000, experts believe. Commander of the Navy, Capt. Igor Schvede, has said that there are decades worth of sea mines to be found. Estonia has three Sandown class minehunters, a UK-built ship model that is used also by the British and Saudi navies.
Ingrid Teesalu