Operation OPEN SPIRIT

The Canadian Armed Forces (CAF) have taken part in Operation OPEN SPIRIT since 2014, with the aim of clearing explosive ordnance in the Baltic Sea left behind from two World Wars. The three Baltic nations—Latvia, Lithuania, and Estonia—take turns hosting the operation. It is a multinational exercise in which a number of other countries take part. The CAF contributes a maritime task force on behalf of Canada under Operation REASSURANCE.

How many people are deployed

A team of 15 to 20 clearance divers and support personnel from the Royal Canadian Navy take part in this operation.

What are they doing

During the operation, the RCN dive team works with international partners to scan the seabed in designated areas and search for mine-like objects in the water. Once they confirm that an object is an explosive remnant of war, they or another partner will countermine it. This means that they conduct a controlled detonation.

After they thoroughly search an area, they can declare that it is clear of dangerous mines. This improves safety for commercial shipping, the fisheries industry, and recreational craft in the Baltic Sea.

History and context of the operation

The Baltic Sea saw heavy fighting during World War I and World War II. This included air bombardment, naval gunfire support, mine-laying, and submarine warfare. As a result, unexploded ordnance (UXO) remains in some areas of the Baltic Sea. UXO are munitions which have been fired or deployed but have failed to explode. This presents a potential safety hazard in the area.

Past deployments

CAF members have contributed to this operation since 2014. Working alongside partners, they achieved the following:

• in 2014, they countermined two ordnance in Latvia
• in 2015, they identified 15 mines in Estonia
• in 2016, they countermined one ordnance in Lithuania
• in 2017, they countermined one ordnance in Latvia
• in 2018, they countermined four ordnance in Estonia
• in 2025, they countermined two ordnance in Latvia