[ noun ] the activity of detecting and disposing of marine mines <noun.act>
minesweeping \minesweeping\ n. 1. the activity of detecting and disposing of marine mines. [WordNet 1.5]
Reservists served voluntarily during the U.S. invasion of Panama last December, and others volunteered for minesweeping operations when the United States began escorting Kuwaiti oil tankers in the Persian Gulf starting in 1987.
The barges are used to support minesweeping vessels as well as a number of special operations aircraft and commando teams, and also as bases for surveillance missions to keep track of Iranian gunboats.