In the United Kingdom, a new program will focus on teaching divers how to find and identify unexploded ordnances (UXOs) underwater. As an article for the Maritime Journal notes, the course will fill a niche not usually addressed in commercial diving training. Participants will use the Aquascan DX 300 Magnetometer to locate suspect ordinances during underwater surveys.
Ordnance detection is a task both humans and Remotely Operated Vehicles (ROV's) can take part in, making sure an area is clear for other work, including underwater construction. Once located, crews have various ways to deal with the explosive, including detonating it at the site if necessary. According to an article in WindPower Monthly, actual physical inspection of the ordnance only comes after research beforehand to determine an appropriate strategy.
This particular program will be a collaboration between the Professional Diving Academy and Ramora UK. In the Journal article, the Academy's training manager Neil MacMillan explained the way this course will further the mission of that institution.
"For commercial divers, this is an area that has not been covered in great detail by traditional training courses and this partnership ensures that divers trained by us can now be given proper awareness in UXO surveying, detection and identification," MacMillan said.
This procedure is particularly important for erecting new offshore wind projects, as lost explosives could severely damage vessels and harm their crews. The Journal also notes this as a real concern for European firms working to establish turbines off of the continental coast.
For specific types of commercial diving and marine services, companies that know the specifics of industry insurance may assist in writing relevant policies that cover possible dangers.