The Royal Netherlands Navy operated together with the Belgian and Estonian navies as part of the "Sandy Coast 25" exercise. The focus this year was on protecting Eemshaven on the Ems estuary, which is important for the transit of NATO military equipment and the harbour of Delfzijl on the Ems, as well as important data and energy cables (KRITIS).

The aim of this international exercise was not only to localise and defuse the legacy of war, but also to improve and strengthen cooperation between the allies, including the police and the Dutch coastguard. The focus is on optimising coastal defence as well as testing advanced technologies against modern threats such as sabotage of submarine cables or attacks on strategically important ports. The Joint Inter Agency Task Force - North Sea, which is responsible for this, led the maritime operation.

This year, the deployment of unmanned surface vessels (USV) and autonomous underwater vehicles (AUV), which were used for reconnaissance and mine clearance, was a particular focus. The Dutch Air Force's MQ-9 "Reaper" (General Atomics) armed reconnaissance drone was also deployed in the exercise area. The remote-controlled units make some of the work safer and less intensive for the divers. However, this does not mean that the divers become superfluous.

The Netherlands took part with the Alkmaar-class minehunting vessels HNLMS "Willemstad" (M 864) and "Schiedam" (M 860), the research vessel MV "Geosea" and the diving support vessel HNLMS "Nautilus" (A 853). In addition, the expeditionary survey boat HNLMS "Hydrograaf" (H8021) was tasked with mapping waters, harbours and shipping channels in the Wadden Sea. Belgium took part with the minehunting boat BNS "Lobelia" (M 921, Flower class) and Estonia provided specialists and material for explosive ordnance disposal.

The Sandy Coast exercise lasted just under two weeks this year and takes place annually, alternating between Belgium and the Netherlands. This exercise is more than routine for both countries, as it illustrates the extent to which current geopolitical conflicts interact and Europe's security also depends on security on the seabed.

kdk, SWZ Maritime