News item | 18-08-2025 | 15:23
The Royal Navy is currently cleaning mines and other explosives in the North Sea. That happens with the Belgian and Estonian naval power. With the military presence above the Wadden Islands, sabotage of critical infrastructure such as cables is also prevented. The country trio also trains how it can optimally keep a port safe. The activities are part of Sandy Coast 25. It started today.
This international exercise deepens cooperation and prepares the participants for possible tasks as a result of the increasing military threats. Partners and the Standing Nato Mine Countermeasure Group 1 (SNMCMG1) are not only working above Terschelling, Vlieland and Schiermonnikoog. There is also a role for the Delfzijl and Eemshaven drop -out ports. The latter use NATO allies, when it comes to it, for the supply and removal of equipment and troops. So it is a neck shop to protect such a port. This is therefore trained, mainly by soldiers from the Explosives Clearance Service and by Very Shallow Water (VSW) teams, or divers operating in very shallow water.
Knowledge exchange
To get a better picture of the activities in the North Sea, the navy regularly patrols there. Defense also escorts and monitors suspicious vessels, such as Russian. Patrouille activities are tested during Sandy Coast and improved with the help of knowledge exchange.
As mentioned, the participants also remove explosives. There are still thousands on the bottom of the North Sea. They date from the First and Second World War and are hard to find and remove. More than 1,550 have been cleared since 2005.
Old ammunition residues may still cause explosions. They can damage ships, block shipping routes or make ports inaccessible. That is why the Navy is constantly innovating in the field of mine control and port protection, for example with underwater drones, which are also used here.
Participating parties
The Netherlands participates in the exercise with the mine hunters Zr.Ms. Willemstad and Zr.Ms. Schiedam, research ship MV Geosea and diving vessel Nautilus. Furthermore, the Hydrograph Expeditionary Survey Boat has a task in the Wadden Sea. This recording tendency maps waters, ports and navigation channels. The Zuiderburen also supply mine hunter BNS Lobelia are VSW teams from the party from the Netherlands and Belgium. Estonia finally delivers a diving team and explosive generators. There are also observers from the 3 participating countries.
Sandy Coast is in turn in the Netherlands and Belgium. This edition lasts until August 29, 2025.