The Joint Task Force Atlantic has been busy removing unexploded ordnance from the wrecks of iron ore carriers on the bottom of Conception Bay near Bell Island.
Shells have been removed from the wreck of the Lord Strathcona, one of a number of ships sunk by German U-boat strikes during WWII.
The EOD operation on the Bell Island Wrecks to remove UXOs continues with another successful day of diving and recovering 11 UXOs from the ships for disposal today. #FDUA #FDUP #4ESR pic.twitter.com/lUmHNqZ0dz
— JTFA | FOIA (@JTFA_FOIA) July 19, 2021
Divers recover UXOs from the SS Lord Strathcona ammunition magazine and load UXOs into a cargo net in preparation for recovery by HMCS Moncton. pic.twitter.com/c3OYagtvtG
— JTFA | FOIA (@JTFA_FOIA) July 19, 2021
Lieutenant Richard McKenty is the public affairs officer for the CAF-Joint Task Force Atlantic-Bell Island Wrecks Unexploded Ordnance Clearance Project.
He came all the way from Calgary to take part in the operation which is expected to continue through to the end of July. He tells VOCM News he’s already had a taste of Newfoundland hospitality and has even seen some whales.
The ordnance are being brought to a quarry in Holyrood as it is retrieved and is being detonated in a safe and controlled manner.
Residents can expect to hear a few loud booms as the ordnance is detonated.
After collecting and transferring UXOs ashore, Clearance Divers from Fleet Diving Unit (A) #FDUA and (P) #FDUP, and Combat Divers from 4 Engineer Support Regiment #4ESR safely disposed of the UXOs using a controlled detonation. pic.twitter.com/fiVvEcC1LL
— JTFA | FOIA (@JTFA_FOIA) July 16, 2021
…and the detonation! pic.twitter.com/JKpqAOHMwi
— JTFA | FOIA (@JTFA_FOIA) July 16, 2021