The United States Coast Guard released a notice to mariners earlier this week alerting boaters to a possible unexploded ordnance (UXO) located about eight miles off the coast of Portland, Maine. The device was identified by researchers from the Gulf of Maine Research Institute (GMRI) in partnership with the Maine Department of Marine Resources.
What was found
High‑resolution sonar imaging shows a metal shell that appears to be a war‑time projectile, likely dating back to World War II when the offshore islands of Maine were used for extensive naval training exercises. According to GMRI staff, the shell lacks a visible detonator, but experts caution that it could still contain explosives.
“That being said, it’s probably still full of explosives,” said Zach Whitener, captain of GMRI’s research vessel. “If it got mishandled, it could definitely still explode.”
Location and safety guidance
The shell was located north of an area known locally to fishermen as “The Cod Ledges.” The region is not heavily anchored by large vessels, but it is frequented by scallopers, lobstermen, and other small‑boat operators who use dragging equipment on the seabed.
“We just want to make sure in this specific area that mariners stay away, make sure that they don’t do any sort of anchoring or ground fishing or any kind of seabed disturbance in that area, just to make sure that we don’t have any sort of incident there,” said Lt. Amanda Barnett of the United States Coast Guard.
The Coast Guard’s notice has been forwarded to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) so the device will be marked on official marine charts used by commercial and recreational vessels.
Cleanup prospects
At this time, researchers do not know how the shell will be removed. Whitener explained that historically, similar UXOs are left in place because the cost and risk of a bomb‑squad operation are high.
“Typically, these sorts of things aren’t cleaned up,” he said. “Just because they’ve been there so long and it’s so expensive to get it and deal with it with basically a bomb squad.”
What local boaters should do
Mariners operating in the vicinity of the Cod Ledges are urged to consult the latest Coast Guard notice and to avoid any activity that could disturb the seabed. Fishermen are asked to report any unusual sonar contacts or debris to the Coast Guard’s marine safety hotline.
Authorities will continue to monitor the situation and will provide updates if a removal operation becomes feasible. In the meantime, the precautionary measures aim to protect both the safety of Maine’s maritime community and the fragile marine environment.
Original reporting: WMUR (Hearst) – local news — read the source article.
