International naval training "Open Spirit 2014" organized by Latvian Naval Force flotilla started on Friday.

A total of 26 ships, five diver teams and headquarters staff from 13 countries, including two minelayer units -- "Baltron", the Baltic minelayer squadron and NATO's 1st countermine group are to participate in the training, LETA reported, citing the press centre of the Latvian Defense Ministry.

Before May 12 participants will stay at Ventspils port and are to put their ships to inspection on May 9-11.

From May 12 to 22 the training is planned to be more active. The training will take place in Irbe Strait and at the shores near Liepaja, where a group of bomb disposal divers will go on training.

The ships will be devided into groups pursuing main task of the training -- locating and eliminating underwater wartime mines and torpedoes.

Naval military trainings are held annually in the Baltic states since 1997. Latvia hosted "Open Spirit" for seven times. The previous one was in 2011.