Jan de Nul contracted ADEDE for an offshore UXO survey of the seabed off former North Vietnam in preparation of dredging operations for port construction.
The Gulf of Tonkin was heavily contaminated by dumping of aerial bombs. This was a result of standing airborne patrols which jettisoned their live ordnances prior to returning to inland airfields or aircraft carriers in the many cases they were not called upon to support ground troops . The reason for the dumping of the munitions is the fact that the aircraft could take off with a bomb load but they could not land with it. ADEDE executed a UXO survey aimed at locating aerial bombs, cluster bombs and 2,75″ rockets.
Next to the aerial bombs and rockets (used against shipping) we found several sea mines, in effect modified Mk81-84 bombs with magnetic and acoustic triggering sensors. The area was cleared and dredging operations continued safely and without considerable downtime as a result of UXO finds or incidents.