The Estonian Navy has deployed its Sandown Class minehunting vessel Sakala for the Nato mine-clearance mission scheduled on 1 August 2009.

The vessel will join Standing Nato Mine Countermeasures Group 1 (SNMCG 1), the first permanent mine-clearance squadron and will perform mine-clearance operations and training sessions in different locations worldwide.

EML Sakala is scheduled to be home ported in the beginning of December 2009 and will maintain the Nato Response Force readiness through to 5 January 2010.