Since that fatal accident NATO’s Standing Mine Countermeasures Force Group 1 (SNMCMG1) has identified 547 mines reported by fishermen off the Dutch/Belgian coast and 365 have been destroyed.

The force of five ships from European navies which visited London in April was working on an extensive clearance programme in the North Sea and Baltic, including the Welland Field off East Anglia and farther up the East coast of the UK. Led by the Belgian command and logistic support vessel ‘BNS Godetia’, the Force was on a five day visit to mark the beginning of a 14 week mine clearance operation in the waters of Belgium, the Netherlands, the UK, Latvia, Estonia and France.

The SNMCMG1 is one of NATO’s four maritime high readiness forces, comprising BNS Godetia along with mine countermeasures vessels ‘HMS Brocklesby’, ‘HNLMS Makkum’ (Netherlands), ‘FGS Bad Benevens’ (Germany), and the Latvian vessel ‘LVNS Namejs’. The force is on task continuously, protecting maritime interests and providing the maritime component of the NATO Response Force.

Commander Serge Ots (Belgian Navy), the recently appointed commander of the Force, said that during such exercises, when they look for live mines they generally do find some. Mine Countermeasures Forces are essential in keeping the seas and waterways safe for shipping. Their specialist skills and capabilities are used to fulfil a wide range of roles from salvage operations to humanitarian aid

By Graeme Ewens