17 August (BNS)

The mine-hunter Sakala of the Estonian Navy will take part in the mine clearance operation Open Spirit scheduled to begin in Latvian waters this week.

Troops from 10 countries – Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Belgium, Britain, France, Germany, Norway, Poland and Russia – are to participate in the exercise to be conducted in the Irbe Strait this year. The operation will kick off on 19 August and run until 3 September.

The Estonian Navy is sending the Sakala and a three-strong team of divers to the exercise, naval spokespeople said. The mine-hunter will depart on Thursday and return on 3 September.

"Our wish is to improve mine clearance skills and knowledge in the Irbe Strait and make the Baltic Sea a safer place," said the commanding officer of the Sakala, Lt. Erkki Silm.

The Open Spirit exercise was held in Lithuanian waters in 2010 and in Estonian waters in 2009.