Synopsis
The Baltic Sea is said to contain 30,000 pieces of leftover unexploded ordnance from two world wars. Follow the Latvian minehunter M-06 Tālivaldis on its mission to dispose of them. The crew of Latvian minehunter M-06 Tālivaldis explain how these historic mines pose a threat to both military and civilian ships today, and why it is so important to dispose of them. The ship has been part of Standing NATO Mine Countermeasures Group One several times; this group is responsible for countering the threat of sea mines and unexploded ordnance in the northern seas.
This is a rare opportunity to explore life on board a Latvian Navy mine hunting ship as it conducts its work in the Baltic Sea. This footage includes shots of the Tālivaldis in the Baltic Sea, searching for and destroying unexploded historic ordnance as well as interviews with crew members.
Prior to filming, NATO videographers tested negative for COVID-19, allowing them to operate in a bubble alongside the ship’s crew, which had quarantined prior to deployment.
Transcript
—SOUNDBITE—
Former Commander Deniss Jeļcovs, Latvian Minehunter M-06 Tālivaldis Latvian Minehunter M-06 “Tālivaldis”
“At the bottom of the Baltic Sea, there are thousands of threats. They stay there for years, waiting to attack. It’s our job to find them.”
--SOUNDBITE--
Sergeant Toms Šupstiks, Latvian Minehunter M-06 Tālivaldis (LATVIAN)
“You must be very careful. This is an explosive device. Its aim is to kill you.”
--TEXT ON SCREEN--
MINE HUNTERS OF THE BALTIC SEA
FORMER COMMANDER DENISS JEĻCOVS
Latvian Minehunter M-06 “Tālivaldis”
--SOUNDBITE--
Deniss Jeļcovs, Latvian Minehunter M-06 Tālivaldis (LATVIAN)
“Latvian minehunter M-06 Tālivaldis is a ship that searches for and destroys explosive objects. It is a humanitarian job making the Baltic Sea clear.
For the Latvian Navy, searching for and destroying mines is one of our primary tasks. At the NATO level, this ship has already participated in Standing NATO Mine Countermeasures Group One four times.”
-- TEXT ON SCREEN--
LIEUTENANT COMMANDER RENARS VAZA
Latvian Minehunter M-06 “Tālivaldis”
--SOUNDBITE--
Lieutenant Commander Renārs Važa, Latvian Minehunter M-06 Tālivaldis (LATVIAN)
“The sea is very important to Latvians. Latvia is a nation of fishermen and sailors.”
--TEXT ON SCREEN--
SERGEANT ANDRIS BUMBIERIS
Latvian Minehunter M-06 “Tālivaldis
--SOUNDBITE--
Sergeant Andris Bumbieris, Latvian Minehunter M-06 Tālivaldis (LATVIAN)
“The Baltic Sea is within us. Just as blood flows in us, so does the Baltic Sea.”
--TEXT ON SCREEN--
LIEUTENANT SENIOR GRADE ANNIJA PAULAUSKA
Latvian Minehunter M-06 “Tālivaldis”
--SOUNDBITE--
Lieutenant Senior Grade Annija Paulauska, Latvian Minehunter M-06 Tālivaldis (LATVIAN)
“It’s a pleasure that we can be part of cleaning the Baltic Sea. Making it safer for everyone else.”
Former Commander Deniss Jeļcovs, Latvian Minehunter M-06 Tālivaldis (LATVIAN)
“It is said that the Baltic Sea contains the most explosives left over from World War One and Two.
In total, around 80,000 explosives were placed on the seabed. These mines are over 70 years old now. They must be destroyed because they contain explosives. You never know how they may explode. There are 30,000 still off the coast of Latvia today. It will take many decades to clear this number.”
--TEXT ON SCREEN--
LIEUTENANT COMMANDER STAŅISLAVS KAPUSTINS
LATVIAN MINEHUNTER M-06 “TĀLIVALDIS”
--SOUNDBITE--
Lieutenant Commander Staņislavs Kapustins, Latvian Minehunter M-06 Tālivaldis (LATVIAN)
“Historic mines are dangerous for ships and personnel conducting installations in the water, like pipelines and cables.”
Former Commander Deniss Jeļcovs, Latvian Minehunter M-06 Tālivaldis (LATVIAN)
“Sea mines don’t distinguish between military ships and civilian ones. So, I can show you some videos from the Standing NATO Mine Countermeasures Group. We destroyed 21 mines. That area is now safer but there is always the thought of what would happen if a ship, like a civilian ship had activated this mine. I cannot be certain, but I think hardly anyone would have survived. The air bubble that comes up is large and the damage would have been enormous.”
--TEXT ON SCREEN--
FIRST SEAMAN VITĀLIJS DMITRIJEVS
LATVIAN MINEHUNTER M-06 “TĀLIVALDIS”
--SOUNDBITE--
First Seaman Vitālijs Dmitrijevs, Latvian Minehunter M-06 Tālivaldis (LATVIAN)
“I like this profession, my work. I’m used to it, I couldn’t live without the sea. I am very proud to be serving on this ship.”
Lieutenant Senior Grade Annija Paulauska, Latvian Minehunter M-06 Tālivaldis (LATVIAN)
“In my opinion, the type of person who is best suited to working on a minehunter, must be resilient both mentally and physically because the work is not easy.”
Sergeant Andris Bumbieris, Latvian Minehunter M-06 Tālivaldis (LATVIAN)
“I have served on many naval ships over the last 15 years. Step by step the ships have changed.
This ship has a special feature of a demagnetisation device preventing magnetic mines from activating. Nowhere is it stated that even a 40-, 50-, 60-year-old mine is inactive. There can be an active mine at any time, so we are always ready.”
--TEXT ON SCREEN--
LIEUTENANT COMMANDER ARVIS ZELČS
LATVIAN MINEHUNTER M-06 “TĀLIVALDIS”
--SOUNDBITE--
Lieutenant Commander Arvis Zelčs, Latvian Minehunter M-06 Tālivaldis (LATVIAN)
“Here we have three operators working at the consoles. The detection console operator is the one who sees the contact first. Then the Watch Officer decides if this contact fits the description of a mine and whether to use an underwater robot.”
Former Commander Deniss Jeļcovs, Latvian Minehunter M-06 Tālivaldis (LATVIAN)
“The ground mines are often quite damaged and rusty. There is a risk that fishermen may haul them out of the water.
If it is an explosive object, it will be destroyed with the help of divers. They dive down and put explosives next to it.”
--TEXT ON SCREEN--
SERGEANT TOMS ŠUPSTIKS, LATVIAN MINEHUNTER M-06 “TĀLIVALDIS”
--SOUNDBITE--
Sergeant Toms Šupstiks, Latvian Minehunter M-06 Tālivaldis (LATVIAN)
“I have done many things but nothing comes close to the experience of diving. Nothing. For me personally, it’s incredibly peaceful. I have nothing else on my mind in those moments. It’s all gone. There is only the underwater world. You must approach with caution.”
Former Commander Deniss Jeļcovs, Latvian Minehunter M-06 Tālivaldis (LATVIAN)
“Before destroying the mine, there is a 10- second countdown.”
—SOT—
“Countdown, ten, nine, eight, seven”
—SOUNDBITE—
Former Commander Deniss Jeļcovs, Latvian Minehunter M-06 Tālivaldis (LATVIAN)
“There is such motivation, the joy that we have finally found it.”
—SOT—
“Six, five, four”
—SOUNDBITE—
Former Commander Deniss Jeļcovs, Latvian Minehunter M-06 Tālivaldis (LATVIAN)
“and now we will blow it up.”
—SOT—
“Three, two, one.”
—SOUNDBITE—
Sergeant Toms Šupstiks, Latvian Minehunter M-06 Tālivaldis (LATVIAN)
“‘We did a good thing’ is the feeling I get. There’s one more safe area. We go look for the next one. We don’t stop. There’s a lot of ammunition in the sea.”
--TEXT ON SCREEN--
WORKING ALONGSIDE NATO ALLIES, THE LATVIAN NAVY HAS DISPOSED OF OVER 1,000 EXPLOSIVES IN THE BALTIC SEA
—SOUNDBITE—
Former Commander Deniss Jeļcovs, Latvian Minehunter M-06 Tālivaldis (LATVIAN)
“For me as a sailor who does this work, searching for and destroying mines, clearing the sea, making shipping lanes safe, I feel in my place, truly doing what my soul desires.”
--TEXT ON SCREEN--
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