The survey aimed to detect what is already on the seabed, allowing forces to identify pre-existing objects if mining is ever suspected in the area in the future. The US and UK navies have been using autonomous unmanned underwater vehicles to search the sea ##bed for explosive mines . The mine countermeasure system , currently being used by four naval ships , offers a detailed map of the seabed across key shipping routes in the Gulf . Paul Ottewell , the Task Group Commander , said " as new generations of off - board systems become operational , we are increasingly able to detect and destroy sea mines at deeper depths , more rapidly and with less risk to human life . "
The US and UK navies have been using autonomous unmanned underwater vehicles to search the sea ##bed for explosive mines . The mine countermeasure system , currently being used by four naval ships , offers a detailed map of the seabed across key shipping routes in the Gulf . Paul Ottewell , the Task Group Commander , said " as new generations of off - board systems become operational , we are increasingly able to detect and destroy sea mines at deeper depths , more rapidly and with less risk to human life . "