Royal Navy divers are trying to locate a live World War II mine which has been dredged up off the Essex coast.
The 2,000lb (907kg) live mine was dredged up from the sea bed eight miles off Clacton by the vessel Congo River on Friday morning.
It was due to be detonated at 1100 BST on Saturday but became detached from its marker in 27m (89ft) of water.
The Royal Navy said it was using sonar to locate it but murky conditions were hampering its efforts.
Stewart Oxley, spokesman for RNLI Walton and Frinton, said the mine had been sucked inside the dredger and had to be freed from it before the Navy could begin trying to detonate it.
He added: "There is no threat to the public on land. I imagine it will be left until the weather improves. It's in remarkably good condition.
"Part of the detonator was exposed which allowed them to access it and hook on it, so it seems to be quite a stable device but obviously they want to take away any risk by carrying out a controlled explosion."
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