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6. MINED DANGER AREAS, CLEARED ROUTES AND INSTRUCTIONS REGARDING

CONVENTIONAL AND CHEMICAL MUNITIONS PICKED UP AT SEA

Source: UK Hydrographic Office and Ministry of Defence (Navy).

 Former Notice 6/06 is cancelled. Alterations and additions to the former notice are marked by sidelines. 

MINE DANGER AREAS

1. Minefields were laid in many parts of the world during the World War of 1939 to 1945 (WWII), the Korean War of 1950 to1951, and in a number of less extensive conflicts since then including the Gulf War of 1990 to 1991. The vast majority of historicminefields have been now been cleared. In particular the North Sea and English Channel have been subject to extensive mine

clearance effort since WWII. The few historic minefields that remain uncleared are considered safe for surface navigation. It should be noted however, that in such areas, a real danger of encountering unexploded historic ordnance still exists with regard to anchoring,

demersal trawling or any form of submarine or seabed operations. In the Northern Gulf in particular, anchoring within former minedanger areas is not recommended.

2. Former mine danger areas are mentioned in appropriate volumes of Sailing Directions, with full details in an Appendix. Inthe rare instances where these historic minefields are still considered dangerous, they are denoted on the Admiralty chart as Mine

Danger Areas, and detailed in the appropriate Sailing Directions.

3. Many modern minefields have been cleared and others have had routes cleared through them. For surface navigation, theseroutes are typically marked by buoys and have been used safely by shipping for many years. However, even in cleared waters androutes there is a remote risk that that mines may still remain having failed to be detected by mine-clearance effort. Mariners are

therefore advised there is still a risk involved in anchoring, fishing or any form of seabed activity.

CONVENTIONAL AND CHEMICAL MUNITIONS ENCOUNTERED OR PICKED UP AT SEA

1. “Conventional Munitions” means all types of manufactured (not improvised) explosive weapons. “Chemical Munitions”

include chemical warfare agents in any type of receptacle or weapon. Collectively these may include buoyant mines, seabed (ground)mines, torpedoes, depth charges, bombs, missiles, artillery shells, phosphorous devices and gas cylinders.

2. These weapons are sometimes picked up in trawls, or as a result of other seabed operations, particularly dredging, often in

waters comparatively distant from where they were laid, fired, dropped, or dumped. These munitions are dangerous and sensitive, particularly to shock or vibration, even if they have been in the water for many years. Chemical weapons may be in a particularlyunstable state.

3. The majority of drifting buoyant mines sighted on the surface will  probably be lost exercise mines. Notwithstanding this,all  drifting mines should be reported immediately to the Naval Authorities via the Coastguard Service or normal ship/shorecommunication channel. An “All Ships” broadcast should also be made on VHF Channel 16 to communicate the information to ships

in the vicinity. The time of sighting and position of the mine is important in the reporting information. A drifting mine must be left for naval explosive ordnance disposal experts to deal with. Under no circumstances are drifting mines to be shot at using a firearm: this

may pierce the casing and sink the mine without detonating it. The mine will then migrate on the seabed or submerged in the water column, and potentially end up in a trawl or washed up on the beach, still in a lethal state. If possible, a lightly weighted marker float

or dan buoy should be laid in the vicinity of the mine to assist in re-location should the vessel finding the mine be unable to remainwithin visual range.

4 If a vessel stopped in the water or at anchor sights a drifting mine close to the side of the vessel, the best way of moving the

weapon away from the vessel’s side may be to use a fire hose, playing the jet on the surface of the water close to the weapon, therebycreating a current to push the weapon away. Under no circumstances is the jet to be played on the body of the weapon itself.

5 In the event of an unidentified suspect munition being picked up in trawls or as a result of other undersea operations, thefollowing guidance should be followed:

a. A munition should not be landed on deck if it has been observed whilst still outboard. In the case of fishing

vessels, the trawl should be lowered to the seabed, cut away and the position marked with a surface float, if possible in nomore than 20m of water at least 1000m offshore. The local coastguard should then be informed, using the reporting format at para 6 i to viii below

 b. In the event of the munition not being detected until the contents of the trawl have been discharged on deck, the

skipper of the fishing vessel must decide whether to rid his ship of the weapon by passing it over the side, or to make for thenearest port informing the Coastguard, Harbour Authority or Naval Authority by radio without delay. The best course of 

action will depend on the circumstances, but should be guided by the following points:

(i) The munition should be kept on board for as short a time as possible.

(ii) A ship with a munition on board, or in her gear, should warn other ships in the vicinity giving her position and, if 

applicable, intended position of jettisoning.(iii) Great care should be taken to avoid bumping the munition or subjecting it to shock or vibration. The primary

consideration in this respect may be the motion of the vessel in relation to vessel size and sea state, weighed against theease of handling the device over the side.

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(iv) With due regard to points i and iii, if within two or three hours steaming of the coastline the safest measure willoften be to run towards the nearest port and lie a safe distance (i.e. at least 1000m) offshore to await the arrival of a

 Naval Explosive Ordnance Disposal Unit. UNDER NO CIRCUMSTANCES should the vessel bring the munition intoharbour or its approaches.

(v) If the decision is taken to pass the munition over the side, Explosive Ordnance Disposal will be greatly facilitatedif the item is laid in no more than 20m water depth at least 1000m clear of any building on the foreshore, and its positionmarked by a suitable float and accurately plotted.

(vi) If retained onboard it should be stowed on deck, away from heat and vibration, firmly chocked and lashed to

 prevent movement.

(vii) IT SHOULD BE KEPT COVERED UP AND DAMPENED DOWN WITH SEA WATER. (This is important

 because any explosive or firing mechanisms which may have become exposed to the atmosphere are liable to becomevery sensitive to shock if allowed to dry out).

(viii) Under no circumstances should attempts be made to clean the munition for identification purposes, open it, or 

tamper with it in any way.

6. If a munition is encountered, the following information should be reported to the local coastguard. This comprises

information on the location and nature of the encounter, the type and state of the device encountered (if known), the action taken withthe device, and, if released at sea, the location of the release.

(i)  Position of the encounter as latitude and longitude. If the contacting party is aware of the geodetic datum used

for the position, and it is not World Geodetic System 1984 (WGS84), the geodetic datum should be reported as part of the location information. Where the exact position is unknown, approximate coordinates should be given, or a rangeand bearing from a charted feature.

(ii)  Depth of water in metres.

(iii)   Nature of the encounter. The description could include such things as: entanglement in nets; dredgingactivities; laying pipelines / cables; found on shore; diving / ROV or other details.

(iv)  Position of disposal if released at sea. Latitude and longitude (if different from i). This position needs to be as

accurate as possible, (ideally a GPS position), to aid relocation by diver if the munition is not marked at the surface or the mark is lost.

(v)  Details of any surface float laid to mark the munition’s position.

(vi)  Type of device, if known, or a description of key features if observed.

(vii)  State of device. The description could include:

Partly corroded – cases where the contents cannot yet escapeSeriously corroded - cases where substantial parts of the contents can escape

Heavily corroded - cases where most of the contents can escape

Completely corroded - cases where the contents can escape freely 

(viii)  General remarks or any amplifying comments. If an encounter is near or in a known (charted) dumping sitefor munitions, a reference to this should be given. If the device is located by remote means, e.g. Remotely Operated

Vehicle (ROV) or imaging sonar operated by the offshore community, the method of detection and equipmentcharacteristics.

7. Chemical munitions and phosphorus devices require special care. If brought on board, it is probable that they will not be

 positively distinguished from other conventional weapons by an untrained individual unless the casing of the weapon has deterioratedto the extent that the agent inside is exposed to the atmosphere. In this event smouldering, smoke or liquid and vapour discharge will

 be observed. Exposed personnel should IMMEDIATELY evacuate upwind of the device whilst stock is taken of the situation. In the

case of a fishing vessel where the device would typically be brought on board in the gear aft of the crew areas, the vessel should beturned into wind such that any vapours are carried away from the crew. The device should then be returned to the seabed as soon as possible by ditching the gear if necessary, the position noted and marked with a surface float, and Coastguard informed immediately.

 No attempt should be made to remove the device from the gear except where the gear cannot be ditched and it is necessary to do so toreturn the device to the seabed. No attempt should be made to physically touch or handle the device. Once the weapon has been

 jettisoned, crew should remain upwind until the exposed decks and surfaces have been washed down with copious quantities of seawater.

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a. Phosphorus devices will generally come in two categories:

(i) Expended and partially expended military and civil marine pyrotechnics. These small (handheld) devices are themost common source and may contain exposed phosphorus dependent on how long they had burnt. Although requiring

careful handling these are not a serious threat due to their small physical size, but should still be treated with due care.

(ii) Phosphorus filled ordnance that has previously been dumped at sea. These devices may include artillery shellswhich may not be expended and could contain a considerable amount of phosphorus. Deterioration with age of such

items makes leaking phosphorus a likely hazard.

 b. Chemical devices, which may include chlorine, phosgene or mustard gas, will generally come in two categories. They

were historically dumped in relatively deep areas which would be anticipated to be beyond the reach of demersal trawling or dredging; the risk of encountering such devices is relatively small but nevertheless real:

(i) Gas filled ordnance e.g. artillery shells which are not expended. Deterioration with age of such items makesleaking chemical agent a likely hazard.

(ii) Gas filled storage cylinders. These could contain a considerable amount of chemical agent and deterioration with

age of such items makes leaking chemical agent a likely hazard.

8. It should be appreciated that chemical agents in liquid and vapour form may cause burns and irritation to lungs, skin andeyes by contact (liquid or vapour) or inhalation (vapour). Commercial masks intended to provide inhalation protection against dust or 

industrial agents will provide little or no protection against agents intended for use in war, although heavy oilskins may afford somelimited protection against splashes of liquid chemical. Phosphorus is an extremely hazardous chemical; aside from the risk of burns if 

handled, leaking phosphorus devices present a significant fire risk as phosphorous spontaneously ignites in air once dry, and suddenexposure to atmosphere can cause an explosion. Additionally, there is a risk of chemical poisoning and the formation of highly toxic

Phosphoric and Phosphine gases if stored.

RESPONSIBILITIES OF MARINERS1. It is emphasised that it is the responsibility of all users of the sea to report encounters with mines and other munitions, withthe aim of safe disposal, as well as identification of the extent of areas around known dumping sites where conventional and chemicalmunitions are to be found, and the identification of previously unknown or unrecorded dumping sites. This includes objects identified

 by Remotely Operated Vehicles (ROVs) or imaging sonar operated by the offshore exploration community and by commercial andsport divers. In this way, areas where a high risk of encounters with munitions exists on the seabed may be accurately designated on

navigational charts.

2. Reports submitted by the offshore community of munitions located during the course of offshore surveys should follow thereporting format at Para 6 i to viii, and be submitted to the following address:

United Kingdom Hydrographic Office, Admiralty Way, Taunton, Somerset, TA1 2DN, United Kingdom.

3. UNDER NO CIRCUMSTANCES should an attempt be made to recover a mine deliberately and bring it to port; rewardsformerly paid to mariners for such recovery have been discontinued. 

4. A colour identification poster illustrating a representative selection of explosive ordnance which could be encountered has been prepared by the Ministry of Defence. Copies are available free from the following sources:

Southern Diving Unit 1, HM Naval Base Devonport, Devon, PL2 2BG

 Northern Diving Group, HM Naval Base Clyde, Faslane, Helensburgh, Dunbartonshire, G84 8H

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