Following the tragic explosion on April 9, 2024, at the Bargi hydroelectric power plant (Suviana Lake), global media attention focused on the complex rescue and recovery efforts.
Once the primary emergency phase focused on search and rescue—led by the National Fire Brigade and emergency services—was concluded, the operation shifted to a critical structural safety phase, setting the stage for Drafinsub’s underwater intervention at the Bargi Power Plant.
Mobilized to support Enel Green Power technicians and Public Authorities, the mission was to hydraulically seal the compromised facility, a mandatory step to secure the infrastructure and pave the way for the subsequent dewatering and remediation activities essential for the plant’s restoration.
Beyond the Limit Operational Scenario
The intervention inside the Bargi plant was far from a routine diving operation. Drafinsub technicians were tasked with operating on the flooded levels of the structure facing prohibitive conditions:
Low Visibility: The water, mixed with debris, sludge, and oils leaked from the turbines, rendered visual navigation quite challanging, forcing operators to work almost exclusively by touch.
Hazmat Environment: The presence of hydrocarbons and chemical contaminants required the use of specific Chemical Protective Equipment (vulcanized dry suits and mating yoked helmets) to ensure operator safety.
Confined Spaces & Wreckage: The explosion caused structural collapses, leaving twisted reinforcement bars and submerged debris. This created a “hostile” environment where every movement had to be calculated to avoid umbilical entanglement.
Drafinsub Technology in Emergency Response
To address these criticalities, Drafinsub deployed technologies typically reserved for the Offshore and Oil & Gas sectors, significantly elevating the safety standard of the recovery operations. Critically, this technological deployment was backed by the specific training of our operators and the unparalleled experience gained by Drafinsub in previous national emergencies, such as the Genoa Pilot Tower collapse and the complex operations on the Costa Concordia wreck.
The operational approach included:
Surface Supplied Diving (SSD) in Confined Spaces: Transitioning from standard commercial diving to a highly controlled environment, we utilized surface-supplied equipment to ensure constant real-time monitoring of every operator. The protocol involved strict safety layers, including multiple levels of surface stand-by divers, the establishment of underwater tending points to manage umbilicals, and advanced penetration techniques specifically designed for spaces with no direct vertical ascent possibilities.
ROV (Remotely Operated Vehicles): The strategic use of underwater ROVs allowed for the preliminary inspection of the most hazardous areas prior to human entry, mapping structural risks and identifying obstacles.
Progressive Environmental Securing & Custom Lighting: Safety was built step-by-step. We implemented a “progressive securing” strategy for the underwater workspace, which included the installation of a bespoke lighting system. Designed ad-hoc for this scenario, the system was crucial to penetrate the turbidity and render the submerged levels viable for complex technical operations.
The Critical Approach to Safety and Protocols
In a context with zero margin for error, the rigorous adherence to safety standards made the difference. Consistent with its corporate policy, Drafinsub applied IMCA (International Marine Contractors Association) and UNI 11366 standards even in this civil emergency context.
Every dive was preceded by a meticulous Risk Assessment, in close coordination with Enel Green Power, the National Fire Brigade, the Arma dei Carabinieri and the Local Health Authority (ASL), ensuring that the remediation operations did not endanger further human lives.
The Suviana incident remains a deep wound for the Italian hydroelectric sector. However, the intervention demonstrated the critical importance of having industrial partners like Drafinsub, capable of mobilizing high-profile skills and cutting-edge technology in record time.
Where environmental conditions made ordinary operations impossible, the professionalism of Drafinsub’s hyperbaric technicians allowed for the completion of the delicate tasks required, confirming the company as a national benchmark for emergency response and complex underwater works.