Client: Volker Stevin
Contractor: MMC Diving Services ltd
Duration: 1 week
Date posted: 24-03-2020
Due to the number of incendiary devices dropped during the war, of which many failed to function as intended and a great number are still believed to be buried on the seabed.
With the arrival of our new British aircraft carrier HMS Prince of Wales, Volker Stevin were appointed as the principle contractor to prepare and upgrade the jetty to accommodate this huge ship. Due to the sheer size of the vessel a new mooring dolphin was to be constructed in the middle of the entrance to north camber.
These works involved piling into the seabed adjacent to the historic and protected Nelson's Quay, a granite block wall, this is a listed, prized piece of British heritage, and as such, and to eliminate any potential risk of all targets exploding had to be exonerated as the detonation of a UXO on a seabed in shallow water would pose a significant threat to equipment, vessels, quayside and personnel.
The risk that UXO could be initiated if encountered depend on its condition, how it is found and the energy with which it is struck. Most unexploded munitions do not become less dangerous with age and could still function as designed if disturbed.Furthermore, it is possible that seawater can degraded certain types of UXO over time leaving them in a more sensitive state.
MMC Dive team had to locate all targets by using a magnetometer in depths between 5 & 15 meters, our divers then excavated the targets using airlifts and lances so ALARP Certificate could be issued for each individual target.
All MMC's work is carried out in accordance with CIRIA report C754 (UXO risk in the marine environment) and is planned, managed and overseen by experienced marine UXO professionals.
If you have an upcoming project and require a clearance team, Please contact us.
