U.S. Navy Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD) technicians from Mobile Unit 8 have wrapped up a high-stakes underwater mission in Latvia’s port of Liepaja.
As part of the multinational maritime exercise BALTOPS 25, the divers were tasked with removing unexploded munitions from the WWII-era German cargo ship Ilmenau, which sank decades ago.
The sunken ship, located in Latvian territorial waters, has long posed a threat to maritime operations. Over time, the remains of explosives from the war have shifted due to corrosion, sand movement, and Baltic Sea currents. The Navy’s job was to safely find, recover, and destroy these hazards.
Working side-by-side with Latvian Navy EOD divers, the U.S. team successfully removed more than 50 pieces of historical ordnance. Some were lodged near the crumbling hull of the Ilmenau, while others were scattered nearby.
“We are grateful for the continued cooperation with our U.S. partners during BALTOPS 25. Over the course of these two weeks, significant work was carried out – including the removal of underwater structures, the construction of a boat slipway, and extensive efforts to clear a shipwreck of artillery shells,” said Lt. Cmdr. Haralds Liniņš, commanding officer of the Latvian Navy Diving Unit.