Demining on Bolshoy Tyuters Island

In 1998–2003 Dr Startsev initiated and organized an international humanitarian project to protect the international waters of the Gulf of Finland, with the support of the governments of Saint Petersburg and Leningrad Oblast and the State Duma Committee on Ecology. The explosive items were made safe by specialists of the North-Western Regional Centre of EMERCOM of Russia; the Baltic Special Marine Inspectorate of the Ministry of Natural Resources monitored environmental safeguards. The Swedish partner was the KTH Royal Institute of Technology (Stockholm), and the vessel Altair was used as technical assistance.

Dr Startsev organized three expeditions to the island and took part in them himself.

The first two expeditions, in August and October 1998, were carried out with the technical support of the Interferrum-Metall ship recycling yard (Director General A. A. Startsev) and Swedish technical assistance. In 36 working days a large part of the island and its waters was cleared, and more than 300 explosive items were found.

The third expedition, on 18–27 July 2003, was coordinated by the UNIDO North-Western International Cleaner Production Centre. Munitions found earlier and new finds were made safe: 3,197 explosive items were destroyed in all, 325 of them of large calibre (75, 88 and 150 mm shells and FAB-250 aerial bombs). A short documentary film was shot during the expedition.