Since 2016, four practice mines have been discovered by the public in Mysingen and the nearby Hårsfjärden in the Stockholm archipelago. Berga Naval Base and Muskö Naval Base have their training areas here. A practice mine weighs several hundred kilograms and could damage a smaller ship in the event of a collision.
A mine can sink a recreational boat in ten minutes
SVT Nyheter Stockholm has been in contact with several professionals in the archipelago and all testify to a concern. Jonny Crusell is one of them, he discovered a mine in December 2018. On weekdays, he is the commander of Blidösundsbolaget and drives passengers between Årsta brygga and Utö.
– It is unpleasant and frightening. If we hit a practice mine, the propellers would break – but a leisure boat would sink in ten minutes, he says.