Minefields
	Minefields were laid in many parts of the world during the World War of 1939-45 and during the Korean War of 1950-51. Many of these minefields have been swept, others have had routes swept through them. These routes are mostly marked by buoys and have been used safely by shipping for many years. Navigation through these minefields whether they have been swept or not, is now considered no more dangerous from mines than from any other of the usual hazards to navigation, due to the lapse of time. Anchoring, fishing or any form of submarine or seabed activity in the unswept areas is still considered dangerous. Furthermore, uncharted wrecks and shoals may lie in these areas, some of which are not covered by modern surveys.
	Caution
	Even in swept waters and routes there is a remote risk that mines may still remain, having failed to respond to orthodox sweeping methods. The mariner is therefore advised to anchor in port approaches and established anchorages, rather than in the unswept areas. Minefields laid later than 1951 are still considered dangerous to surface navigation. The mariner should keep strictly to any swept routes through them.
	Mines
	Drifting mines are occasionally sighted and, even though many are only exercise mines which are broken adrift, they are all best left for Naval experts to dispose of. Rifle fire can pierce the casing of a dangerous mine without causing it to explode. If it then sinks, it may subsequently be washed up on a beach or brought up in a trawl, still in a dangerous state. Remoored mines, which have drifted from deeper water trailing a length of cable, are liable to become re-activated if the cable fouls an obstruction. Such mines may not appear on the surface at all states of the tide. If a drifting or remoored mine is sighted, the time and the position of the mine should be reported immediately to naval authorities via the Coastguard service or normal communication channels, and the report broadcast on VHF Channel 16 so that other shipping in the vicinity is warned. If the relevant authorities are operating under the GMDSS a DSC Safety Alert will be made to all ships regarding the sighting of mines. The announcement broadcast will be carried out on one of the DSC frequencies and the message will normally be transmitted on the distress, urgency and safety frequency in the same band in which the DSC safety alert was given. Full details are given within the relevant Admiralty List of Radio Signals. No attempt should ever be made to recover a mine and bring it to port. Mines, torpedos, depth charges, bombs, and other explosive weapons may still be dangerous, even though they have been in the water for many years.
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