The Dutch Defence Explosive Ordnance Disposal Service (DEODS) destroyed a US World War II 2000-pound bomb in the North Sea on 13 November. The aerial bomb was found aboard a dredger on Monday.
The explosive, of over a metre long, had ended up in the ship’s dredging pump.
The report came in to the Netherlands Coastguard Centre. Using diving vessel Cerberus, the Defence Diving Group then removed the explosive from the dredger.
Also read: Dutch navy clears bomb in busy Rotterdam shipping lane
Many explosives in the North Sea
The North Sea still contains many explosives from the First and Second World Wars. Fishing or working vessels at sea regularly unexpectedly retrieve the projectiles.
Following a report, the Coast Guard then calls in the Ministry of Defence to clear the explosive.
Also read: How Boskalis searches the seabed for unexploded ordnance
Explosives disposal
Dismantling explosives underwater is a specialism within the EOD. Last week, the service celebrated the EOD’s oak anniversary. It has now been contributing to safety on land and at sea for eighty years.
Picture (top): Diving vessel Cerberus (by the Dutch Ministry of Defence).
Also read: Fourth Mine Countermeasure Vessel launched, steel cut for number eight
