NATO sweeps for mines in Baltic Sea during ‘Open Spirit 2024’

NATO naval forces, led by the Estonian Navy, have successfully carried out Operation Open Spirit 24, a minesweeping exercise designed to clear explosive remnants of war in the Baltic Sea.

The operation, which initially started in 1998, rotates annually between Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania, focusing on enhancing maritime safety and demonstrating NATO’s commitment to securing the Baltic region.

This year’s operation took place in Estonian territorial waters and its economic zone, involving a total of 14 ships, 11 shore-based divers, underwater drone teams, and over 700 naval personnel from Estonia and various Allied nations.

Among the participating vessels was the Finnish Navy’s MHC Vahterpää, marking its first deployment under NATO command as part of the Standing NATO Mine Countermeasures Group 1 (SNMCMG1).

Lieutenant Commander Henri Savisaari, commander of MHC Vahterpää, highlighted the significance of their participation: “We joined a NATO detachment for the first time, which means that our tasks and responsibilities in the detachment are now different. We receive our orders from the Commander of SNMCMG1 and carry them out with the same professionalism and uncompromising attitude as we do when carrying out missions at home.”

During the course of Open Spirit 24, the teams successfully identified 35 historic explosives, successfully clearing 30 of them. These operations are not only critical for the safe navigation in the Baltic Sea but also serve as valuable training for NATO forces in mine warfare techniques.

The current composition of SNMCMG1 includes seven vessels from Belgium, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, the Netherlands, Norway, and an explosive ordnance diving team from Latvia, with the German FGS Donau serving as the flagship.