EOD Operation to Remove British Sea Mine at Greenock

An Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD) operation is underway after a WWII-era sea mine was found just off the coast of Gourock, near Greenock in Scotland. The device is currently being moved to the deeper water off Greenock Harbour where it will be destroyed in a controlled explosion.

As part of the operation, sea lanes in the vicinity have been closed and an evacuation of residential streets along the coast has also been enforced. The discovery of the UXO came after a week-long search by Royal Navy divers after reports that the device had been seen on the seabed.

The device is a British-made Mk 6 – which contained approximately 300lb of TNT – and is reported to be in a fragile condition. It is likely to have migrated to its current position from one of the mine barrages established to counter German submarine attacks during WWII.

To follow the latest developments see: http://www.greenocktelegraph.co.uk/news/roundup/articles/2015/10/15/545608-latest-gourock-mine-on-the-move