Mine hunting is searching the sea bottom and the waterlayer for explosives, with the use of an active sonar. Minehunters and unmanned underwater vehicles equipped with a sonar are the assets to conduct this mine hunting. After detecting and localizing a contact this contact needs to be classified (minelike or non minelike). After classifying a minelike contact identification needs to be done by a diver or a remote operating vehicle (ROV) equipped with a camera in order to determine if the minelike contact is really a mine or not. Of course also other objects, such as missing containers or shipwrecks, can be detected, located and identified.

Image of the classification picture

When one thinks there is a mine in the water, they can launch the ROV (in this case the PAP) or diver. The PAP is equipped with a mine destruction charge and a TV-camera. The camera image will be analyzed within the operational centre on board of the ship. If the contact is identified as a mine the mine disposal charge underneath the PAP can be dropped next to the mine. After recovering the PAP and withdrawal of the ship to a save distance the mine disposal charge will be activated in order to destroy the mine. The diver on the right side of the picture is able to identify and place a mine disposal charge as well.