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A ROYAL Navy diver from Weymouth has been involved in a painstaking operation to destroy mines in shark-filled seas.

Jay Hogg, 37, has helped carry out a critical operation to locate and dispose of mines in mine danger areas' off Iraq and Kuwait.

The ultimate aim of the operation was to improve safety for mariners and open up routes to bring trade into the region The father-of-two from Westham, Weymouth, travelled to the Northern Arabian Gulf as a member of the fleet diving squadron, a multi-national team led by the Royal Navy who are the world-leaders in mine countermeasures.

They were invited into Iraqi and Kuwaiti territorial waters by the governments of the two nations.

Working alongside units and personnel from the United States Navy, and the navies of Kuwait and Iraq, Jay's Royal Navy team spent five weeks searching remnants of anti-invasion minefields that may remain after the two Gulf Wars. A considerable mine clearance effort had already seen more than 1,300 mines destroyed, however some very shallow areas had remained inaccessible for more than 17 years.

Using the latest coalition mine warfare technology, the force was able to search these remaining areas and hopes to soon declare them former mined areas'.

The operation involved the first use of the Royal Navy's specialist unmanned underwater vehicles named Remus, which produced fascinating images of previously unknown wrecks and a shark.

The operation required more than 200 dives and in excess of 100 remotely operated submersible vehicle runs.

Royal Navy Commander David Hunkin, who led the task group, said: "Our work is directly supporting the future success of both Iraq and Kuwait by improving access to their ports and sea-lanes and we have received many messages of support from both countries.

"The navies of Kuwait, Iraq, the United States and the United Kingdom have worked hard together over the past few months and we have built very close working relationships.

"Each nation has brought their own expertise and equipment and we have melded them together into an effective coalition mine countermeasures task group."

He added: "When the mine danger areas are re-designated, every sailor on this mission can be proud that they have made an enduring and positive contribution to the peaceful future of the Middle East."

11:35am Friday 16th May 2008

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