British Ship Stands By for Hormuz Mine Clearing; Full Clearance Could Take Years

Central News Agency, aboard RFA Lyme Bay, May 23. Whether the mine-clearing mission in the Strait of Hormuz will proceed remains uncertain, but hundreds of personnel aboard the Royal Fleet Auxiliary landing ship RFA Lyme Bay, anchored off Gibraltar, are on standby. According to the Associated Press, U.S. President Donald Trump joined Israel in airstrikes against Iran on February 28, leading Iran to block the Strait of Hormuz in retaliation. As this waterway is a vital route for Middle Eastern oil and gas, the blockade has left at least 6,000 ships unable to pass, severely impacting international shipping and causing energy prices to soar. In Gibraltar, a British Overseas Territory, the Royal Navy is prepared for an international mission likely led by the UK and France. However, a peace agreement between the warring parties is a prerequisite for any mine-clearing operations. Gemma Britton, commander of the Royal Navy's Mine and Threat Exploitation Group, warned that Iran may have laid a large number of diverse mines in the Strait, including rocket-propelled, bottom, and moored mines, triggered by sound, movement, or light. She explained that systems from the Lyme Bay can be loaded onto smaller vessels and operated remotely, reducing the number of personnel entering dangerous waters. While traditional methods involved divers placing explosives, the Lyme Bay is testing a new mode using remote-controlled vehicles to place charges. The priority is to clear a path for about 700 ships to exit safely, followed by an inbound lane. However, she added that clearing the entire strait could take months or even years. It remains unclear if the strait has been mined or if the UK and its allies will deploy. Trump stated on social media that details of an agreement are being discussed, but provided no timeline. Meanwhile, the UK says the Lyme Bay and its crew will remain on standby.