"Port and coastal survey", funded by the European Union

15/07/14

The project relating to the national "Port and Coastal Survey" (PON-PACS) was presented at the Maritime Command for the port of Augusta, in the presence of the military authorities and the ARPA of Syracuse.

With this program, funded by the European Community, the navy aims to guarantee the free and safe use of maritime communication routes, as the safety of port and coastal areas is a priority for the Italian economy. In this context the navy is conducting an activity of control and monitoring of the depths of specific sensitive port areas of the nine main ports of the regions affected by the project with the following methods: location and possible reclamation of objects dangerous for navigation and present in the seabed , helping to increase port security; conducting environmental monitoring, contributing to the protection of the marine environment; creation of a database of objects present on the seabed. The PACS activity will be conducted by a team of divers of the Navy of the Underwater Operative Group (GOS), employing technologically advanced systems for underwater mapping and for the discovery and identification of dangerous objects. The port of Augusta is among the nine in southern Italy that will be monitored by our divers, the same activity will also be carried out in the port of Messina. After the presentation, a practical demonstration of the activity was carried out by the operating group of the Navy divers. The presentation of the project was reported by the frigate captain Emilio Leoncini while the operational part by the vessel lieutenant Marco Presti. Systems that are cutting-edge and specifically Pluto Plus and Remus 100 will be used. In addition, a rubber boat will also be used with sonar that will allow better exploration of the marine subsoil.

"This is a project that has been around for a few years because the European Union - said the commander of Marisicilia Admiral Camerini - tends to make a convergence project to try to create a certain balance between the regions a little 'more difficult and those in terms always of legality, we talk about security, in our case of navigation and then seeks tends to balance say what can be a difference in current between those that are the northern regions and southern regions but in all senses from the east to the west of Europe. So let's say that there are these funds have been purchased means and clearly have a military purpose in the sense that they can identify - adds Camerini - war remnants and that are also below the level of the fund but also have a dual purpose because these tools have the ability to be able to detect many interesting data on the health of water and therefore this can be transferred to the competent bodies under the Ministry of the Environment. In Palermo, in addition to some bomb that then always falls within the scope of this research, a wreck was identified that was not really known the position was supposed but in the papers was reported wrong and instead was in another position. It is clear that being aware of the exact knowledge - adds Admiral Camerini - of the position of the wreck from a security to navigation that otherwise would not exist. In Augusta the chosen parts are two coastal areas immediately after the obstructions and then the part of the Forts. Then, however, if there were any specific interests, we can change our plans. It is clear that these data will be made available to everyone on Friday in Piazza Castello in such a way that everyone is made aware of what has been found ".

Salvatore Pappalardo