The Belgian army’s bomb disposal unit DOVO and electricity grid management company Elia Group is to begin work to remove 7 World War II German sea mines on Monday (9 March). The mines were found during surveys of the seabed that were carried out in preparation for the Princess Elisabeth Island.
The sea mines pose a risk to upcoming construction work that includes the installation of power cables on the seabed. The cables will carry renewable electricity from offshore wind farms to the West Flemish coast.
Elia says that removing the explosives will be a complex operation both at sea and on land. Once recovered, the mines will be transported to the Wenduine Beach, where, specialists will examine them before safely neutralising or detonating them.
During the operation, a 500-metre perimeter will be set up on the beach and the nearby dunes. Some there could be temporary disruption to traffic and the coastal tram services. The work is expected to finish before start of the summer holiday season.
The mines have been identified as Küsten-Mine A”, a German coastal sea mine designed to stop Allied ships during World War II. Each mine is a rectangular concrete block containing about 50 kg of hexanite explosive.
The planned energy island, about 45km off the coast of West Flanders will collect electricity from offshore wind farms and send it to the mainland. Installation of the island’s large concrete structures began last year.