The Special Explosive Disposal Team, based in Cartagena, operates within the Navy Mine Countermeasures Divers Unit and specializes in defusing dangerous ordnance. This unit played a crucial role during a training exercise near Majorca in front of Can Picafort, within the municipality of Santa Margalida.
A local civilian alert prompted the Civil Guard to inspect a potential underwater explosive device in Alcúdia Bay. The Palma Underwater Activities Group confirmed and identified the discovery as a probable torpedo, and they notified the Navy’s Naval Movement Operations and Surveillance Center in Cartagena.
The Naval Operations Force Headquarters authorized deployment of an explosive ordnance disposal team from the UBMCM through the Navy’s Marine Movement Surveillance and Operations Center. The operation proceeded with the use of special explosive charges to determine the object status. The assessment confirmed the identification of a German G7 torpedo that lacked an explosive fuse, dispelling any immediate risk concerns.
The operation was coordinated by local authorities in Santa Margalida, with support from the Civil Protection service, Club Nàutic Can Picafort, and the Balearic Islands Marine Sector in Porto Pi. The effort ensured smooth execution of the mission, which also involved the Army’s Palma 47 Regiment and the Underwater Activities Group of the Palma Civil Guard.
In the end, the teams established safe procedures for the secure handling and disposal of the device, while maintaining communication with military and civil security partners to prevent any future hazards and ensure public safety in the area. This coordinated response reflects ongoing cooperation between naval, military, and civilian agencies to manage underwater explosive threats in coastal regions.