British Navy Prepares Mine-Clearing Mission in Strait of Hormuz

The ship is scheduled to link up with the U.K. destroyer HMS Dragon and allied vessels before transiting the Suez Canal to the Persian Gulf. The deployment remains conditional on a peace agreement between the United States and Iran. Officials stated that final details of such an agreement are still under discussion.

Mission Details Cmdr.

Gemma Britton, who leads the Royal Navy's Mine and Threat Exploitation Group, described the range of potential mine types that could be present in the strait. The systems aboard the RFA Lyme Bay include autonomous underwater vehicles that can scan the seabed in roughly half the time required by crewed vessels.

Once a mine is located, a remotely operated vehicle can place and detonate a charge without requiring a diver to enter the water. The initial priority would be to open a transit lane allowing approximately 700 ships to exit the strait.

Carns told reporters that commercial insurers require absolute certainty that the waterway is clear before vessels resume normal traffic. A U.S. official speaking on condition of anonymity said no mines have been found or destroyed in the strait and no ships have been damaged.

The international operation would begin only after hostilities end. Carns said the RFA Lyme Bay and its crew will remain ready for deployment.