Wilmington Police Department unveils new explosive containment vessel

WILMINGTON, NC (WWAY) — The Wilmington Police Department unveiled a new crime-fighting piece of equipment on Thursday, an explosive total containment vessel.

The department’s bomb squad will use the Cape Fear Regional Special Teams Total Containment Vessel to assist in the safe disposal of explosives.

The vessel can handle the explosive force of 10 pounds of C4 and will be used throughout the region, not just within Wilmington or New Hanover County.

Federal grants covered part of the vessel’s cost.

WPD Lieutenant Greg Willett said the vessel will be used for more than just homemade explosives.

“Cannonballs from the Civil War, we had ordinance from World War 2, mortar shells,” Willett said. “I think twice in my career we’ve encountered land mines. And of course, we’ve had some incidents where people have created pipe bombs. And so all of those are examples of things that can be placed in the spherical unit behind me.”

Willett adds that the department has been working to get this vessel since late 2019.