The divers of the operating group divers (GOS) of the command of divers and raiders of the Navy (COMSUBIN), detached to the SDAI (Demining and Defense of Insidious Means) Unit in Augusta, conducted delicate underwater operations in the treacherous waters of the Strait of Messina, near Bolano, Acciarello (RC) and along the Messina coast.
The report of the presence of explosive devices was communicated by an underwater works company engaged in preventive investigations as part of the Bolano-Annunziata project, an energy supply project (underwater cables) that will connect Messina and Reggio Calabria.
On behalf of the prefectures of Messina and Reggio Calabria, the Navy divers developed a plan for the disposal of the devices, located at depths between 35 and 40 meters. The devices were later identified as 4 500-pound aerial bombs, 4 250-pound aerial bombs and a large-caliber projectile, for a total of 9 pieces, all dating back to the Second World War.
The operations, which began on February 26 and were finally concluded on April 10, proved to be extremely complex, with technical difficulties that required special attention as environmental factors significantly affected the performance of the operations: dives at significant depths, strong currents and adverse weather conditions put the divers involved in the field to the test. Making the intervention even more delicate was the type of devices, "armed" aircraft bombs with fuses inserted, which required a careful process of removal, towing and destruction to ensure the safety of the divers and the surrounding community.
The population was informed through timely communications that involved citizens and avoided alarmism, and each phase of the operations was carefully planned through effective coordination that saw the involvement of personnel from the Port Authorities and the Naval Department of the Guardia di Finanza of Messina and Reggio Calabria, in order to guarantee an adequate security framework.
In the long term, operations of this type bring tangible benefits to the local community; the removal of war remnants improves the safety of the area, also favoring the relaunch of maritime activities, from fishing to tourism. Specifically, the elimination of war remnants will allow the safe laying of the underwater cables of the Bolano-Annunziata power line, a new infrastructure that will increase the interconnection capacity between Sicily and the Continent up to 2.000 MW, contributing to the development and integration of renewable sources in Southern Italy. Furthermore, the connection will improve the electricity grid, increasing operational flexibility and ensuring greater safety for the electrical systems of the South and the Island.
