Project
Silvertown UXO Mitigation

Overview of Process and works completed:

Following a non-intrusive survey at Silvertown prior to a large construction project which highlighted a master target list (MTL) of 354 targets which included 105 salvage items, UK Diveworks Commercial were requested by our client to conduct an intrusive search of these potential unexploded ordnance (pUXO). This complex task included searching under a pier and working 24 hour shifts near a residential area, alongside the obvious dangers of UXO.

Confirmed unexploded ordnance (cUXO) would be reported to emergency services and the Royal Navy would deal with the target. Non UXO targets were to be salvaged, highlighting further environmental issues due to the number of vehicles contaminated with oil and lubricants requiring salvage.

The team/shift consisted of an ADC qualified diving supervisor, 4 civils divers for purposes of search and salvage, 1 x qualified UXO diver and a UXO qualified supervisor.

The search systems were dependent on the seabed and viz, although during the whole project visibility was 0-1m. A datum would be placed near the coordinates of the pUXO ensuring the datum was not placed on top of the target and the civils diver would carry out a search, circular or jackstay using a magnetometer to detect the target. Once the target was located the diver would relay the description ensuring the no touch rule was adhered too, to the UXO supervisor. If deemed that the target was a possible UXO the civils diver would place a datum next to the target and be extracted. The UXO diver would deploy to determine the identity of the target.

If a target was buried the divers would airlift around the target to allow identity by the UXO diver. This would add the risk of trench collapse so the excavation had to be in accordance with excavation regulations on the surface. Fortunately, during the project no cUXO's were found. 105 targets were salvaged or moved out of the search pattern including 7 vehicles. The vehicles were rigged in a manner that ensured the vehicles remained in the same position during the lift to avoid further contamination by oil moving around within the vehicle. A contamination boom was also deployed as further mitigation against oil spillage.

The project was completed on time and with no reported incidents, accidents or near misses. The site was internally audited by UK Diveworks Commercial throughout the project to ensure safety and quality were maintained throughout. The client also audited the site and remained happy with the standards set by the team throughout.