Navy EOD safely disposes of old sea mine on Saipan

The Navy Explosive Ordnance Disposal Mobile Unit 5 Det. Marianas conducted a controlled burn of a Japanese sea mine on the morning of May 9.

After Joint Region Marianas received a request for assistance from CNMI Gov. Eloy S. Inos, six EOD technicians flew from Guam to Saipan on May 7.

Detachment officer-in-charge Lt. Nick Matics and senior chief explosive ordnance disposal warfare specialist Brian Fitzgerald investigated the sea mine and identified it as a World War II Japanese Type 93 JB sea mine containing 220 lbs of explosives. Due to the sensitivity of the mine, Matics and Fitzgerald advised the local government that it was unsafe to transport and advised local agencies that a controlled burn was the safest method to deal with the mine in its location.

Over the next 24 hours, the team worked diligently with the support of the government and local agencies to set up barriers around the mine in order to protect personnel and property in the event that the explosives detonated during the operation.

On the night of May 8, after all physical protective barriers had been set, local law enforcement evacuated the immediate area. At 3:40am the next morning, the EOD technicians conducted a controlled burn of the sea mine. After confirming that it was safe to transport, the team prepared the mine for movement to a predetermined location where they conducted a final disposal of any remaining hazards.

Garapan back to normal
Saturday morning, an all-clear condition was given after officials from the U.S. Navy EOD team, the Department of Public Safety, and the CNMI Office of Homeland Security & Emergency Management successfully managed to deactivate an old sea mine, which was found after being excavated at the Imperial Pacific construction a couple days ago in Garapan.

The discovery temporarily halted work at the site, which once was the location of the Samoan housing project. The procedure to remove any hazardous risks from moving the mine from the site required the closure of CPL Derence Jack St. and Beach Road in front of the site towards the Bank of Guam intersection as a precaution, and was carried out at a time where pedestrian traffic was absent.

After four hours, the mine was officially ruled a threat no longer, and the area was officially returned to its normal state at 6am.

Gov. Eloy S. Inos, and Lt. Gov. Ralph DLG. Torres, wish to thank the CNMI Office of Homeland Security & Emergency Management for working closely with public safety departments, as well as the Navy’s EOD team in quickly assessing the conditions, and expediting the process of returning this portion of our tourist district back to normalcy. (PR)