Disposal of unexploded ordnance at Gullane Bay, off the East Lothian coast
During Inch Cape’s ongoing offshore site investigations, the project has found several different types of unexploded ordnances (UXO) along its cable corridor including one approximately one mile (1.6 kilometres) from shore at Gullane Bay.
The UXO found at Gullane Bay is an aluminium-skinned German Luftmine B (LMB) parachute mine intended for land-based targets. At the time of manufacture (around 1930), it would have contained 700 kilograms of explosives however is expected to be significantly depleted now.
Due to its size and location on the project’s cable corridor Inch Cape is required to remove it, along with other UXOs further from shore.
Working in consultation with Nature Scot and Marine Directorate Licensing Operations Team (MD-LOT), Inch Cape continues to plan this removal activity which is likely to take place in early June.
In terms of how the LMB is removed, the project will utilise a low order disposal technique where an explosives expert inserts one or more small charges in the mine to burn it from the inside out. A marine mammal observer will be onboard the vessel (4-Winds) undertaking the activity and work will stop if cetaceans (dolphins or porpoises) are in the vicinity.
While not completely silent, the Inch Cape team is not anticipating the disposal will be audible however people living near Gullane may wonder what the vessel is doing relatively close to shore.
Fishers and maritime stakeholders have been informed via notices to mariners to ensure they are aware and clear of the area.
Any debris generated due to the disposal will be recovered to the vessel’s deck.
