The Navy’s mine clearance capacity MCM Denmark has been on board the Canadian warship Edmonton since mid-August.
Together, the two parties have participated in NATO’s standing mine action force called Standing NATO Mine Countermeasures Group 1 (SNMCMG1) together with the Danish mine action vessel Hirsholm.
Today they disembarked at Naval Station Frederikshavn, where the Canadian ship is docked and delivering the Danish personnel and equipment.
SNMCMG1 is one of NATO’s standing naval forces that can be deployed at short notice and with high readiness if a mine threat is recognized and there is a need to clear mines and ensure free navigation in a specific waterway.
“Both parties – both MCM Denmark and the Canadian ship and crew – have benefited greatly from the collaboration. The Canadians have gained insight into the working methods and capabilities of the Danish capacity, and we from the Danish side have gained insight into the methodologies and way of doing things of a Canadian warship. Together, this has increased our interoperability and strengthened the conditions for collaboration later on,” says Deputy Commander of MCM Denmark, Lieutenant Commander Torben Christensen.
Critical infrastructure
The Danish mine clearance capacity is used to being on board foreign ships, but this is the first time that the Danish side has been on board a Canadian ship.
The Danish mine clearance capacity can easily be moved from ship to ship, as the equipment is largely modular. For example, there is a mobile command module in a specially designed 20-foot shipping container that can be placed on land or on board a military or civilian ship. In addition, the Danish mine clearance capacity is based on remote-controlled drones with sonars and mine clearance vessels with advanced underwater robots.
SNMCMG1 also contributes to the monitoring and protection of critical underwater infrastructure. MCM Denmark is well placed to contribute to this because there is a high degree of overlap between sensors for mine clearance and for registering incidents, damage, sabotage, etc. on underwater infrastructure.
