7:14PM, Fri Nov 2, 2012

Mine-Hunting Robots Take A Break As NATO Warships Berth On Tyne

By India Adams Location: Newcastle

Video: Standing NATO Mine Countermeasures Group berth on the Tyne

Six NATO warships berthed in the Tyne for a brief spell of shore leave, giving the public a chance to check out the military equipment on board.

Five mine hunters came alongside their control ship BNS Godetia of the Belgian Navy at Spiller's Wharf.

They carry remotely-operated underwater vehicles which are used to detect and remove mines from the seabed.

The task group have been engaged in training exercises off the UK coast, improving their mine-hunting skills in different depths of water and seabed types.

The group’s Logistics Officer, Lieutenant Bart Cordy, said: “The waters off the North East coastline between Tynemouth and Berwick-upon-Tweed are excellent training areas and offer many seabed types including mud, rock and sand all of which offer new challenges.

“The coastline also offers a great number of wrecks and contacts for us to investigate, so this area gives us the best of both worlds, good training opportunities and a chance to visit one of our favourite ports, Newcastle-upon-Tyne.”

Commander Yvo Jaenen from the Royal Belgian Navy, said: “We really like to come to Newcastle because it’s what we call a good run ashore. The crews love it here.

“There is lots of entertainment in town and it was a well-deserved rest and recreation.”

Lieutenant Commander Kurt Haukeberg of HNOMS Karmoey, Norway, said: “We had around 700 people come on board on Sunday which is very impressive.

“That’s the biggest number of visitors we’ve had during the whole deployment so hopefully the people who live here appreciate us coming.”