Logo of Phnom Penh Post newspaper Phnom Penh Post - Warship UXO-op nearly complete

Warship UXO-op nearly complete

Content image - Phnom Penh Post
Disposal teams have burned 1.6 tonnes of the 16 tonnes of unexploded ordnance (UXOs) that were retrieved from a warship sunk in the Mekong River in Kampong Cham province during the civil war period of the early 1970s. FN

Warship UXO-op nearly complete

Disposal teams have burned 1.6 tonnes of the 16 tonnes of unexploded ordnance (UXOs) that were retrieved from a warship sunk in the Mekong River in Kampong Cham province during the civil war period of the early 1970s. The remaining ordnance will be neutralised and preserved for museum displays.

Mey Sophea, head of the UXO Clearance Unit of the National Centre for Peacekeeping Forces and Explosive Remnants of War Clearance (NPMEC-ERW), said on April 6 that the specialist team only burned the old and decayed or rusty ammunition, since it would soon deteriorate anyways. Items burned included artillery rounds, mortar shells and bullets among other varieties.

“There could still be a small amount of ammunition left at the bottom of the ship. We will end this operation after Khmer New Year when the ship is lifted from the water,” he said.

Eam Van, deputy chief of the Underwater Explosive Ordnance Disposal Task Force, said the 1.6 tonnes of ammunition destroyed accounted for 10 per cent of the total amount found and were destroyed between March 31 and April 7.

The other 90 per cent, he said, was in good condition and slated to be neutralised at a mine clearance base called Golden West Headquarters in Kampong Chhnang province between March 31 and May 19, before being brought to a museum for display.

According to Van, the shipwreck was a leftover from the French colonial era. It was mainly used for transport and had a cargo capacity large enough to carry in excess of 100 tonnes of ammunition or supplies.

It was determined that the warship originally belonged to France and was used to transport ammunition to Kampong Cham from Ho Chi Minh City in Vietnam.

Known then as Saigon, it was the location of most of the major US military bases during the war. The ammunition was likely provided by the US to support Marshall Lon Nol’s forces in Cambodia during the 1970-1975 war.

MOST VIEWED

  • Bareknuckle champion wants Kun Khmer fighter

    Dave Leduc, who is the current openweight Lethwei boxing champion in Myanmar, has announced that he will travel to Cambodia this year to challenge SEA Games gold medallist Prum Samnang any time that is convenient, after their planned match later this month in Slovakia was

  • Five-year-old Hanuman dances his way into hearts of Cambodia

    A young talent from a new-established settlement has emerged, captivating the online world with his mesmerising performances of the traditional Cambodian monkey dance. Roeun Kakada is a five-year-old prodigy who has taken the social media sphere by storm with his exceptional dance skills and dedication

  • Fresh Covid warnings as Thai hospital fills

    A senior health official reminds the public to remain vigilant, as neighbouring countries experience an increase in Covid-19 cases, with the latest surge appearing to be a result of the Omicron XBB.1.5 sub-variant. Or Vandine, secretary of state and spokeswoman for the Ministry of Health,

  • PM declares ASEAN Para Games open

    The 12th ASEAN Para Games officially kicked off on the evening of June 3 at Morodok Techo National Stadium in Phnom Penh, with a spectacular opening ceremony featuring fireworks and performances by some of the Kingdom’s most accomplished talents. Tens of thousands of sports fans

  • Honda shutters Siem Reap football club

    Japanese football legend Keisuke Honda, the owner of Siem Reap football club Soltilo Angkor FC, has been forced to shut the club down, after it failed to attract sponsorship for the upcoming season. Honda, the former manager of the Cambodia men's national football team, said

  • Waterway job still pending for Kampot tourism port’s opening

    The search is still on for a contractor to expand and deepen the Kampot International Tourism Port’s waterway and deliver additional enhancements allowing safe access for larger vessels, nearly a year after the main construction work on the 4.25ha site was completed on June 30, 2022.