NEMO PRO DIVING COMPLETES A MAJOR SALVAGE OPERATION: PILOT BOAT "PILOT 8" RAISED FROM THE BOTTOM OF THE SULINA BRANCH

Nemo Pro Diving S.R.L., a Romanian company authorized at national and international level, specializing in commercial diving and underwater operations, headquartered in Agigea, has once again demonstrated its expertise in high-complexity salvage missions — most recently through the successful recovery of the pilot boat/tugboat “Pilot 8”, and as a recognized technical voice in the ongoing salvage challenge at Midia Port.

The commercial diving team of Nemo Pro Diving S.R.L., under the direct coordination of administrator Ilie Jeciu, successfully completed the salvage of the pilot boat/tugboat “Pilot 8”, which sank on February 19, 2026, at mile 32+1700, on the right bank of the navigable Sulina branch, restoring navigation safety and environmental protection in a critical area for international river traffic.

The intervention represented a significant technical challenge: any underwater obstacle in this area poses a major risk both to navigators transiting the Sulina branch and to the ecological balance of the zone. The owner had been notified to begin salvage operations within 30 days — a tight deadline that underscores the level of preparedness required for such missions.

The complex salvage operation was directly coordinated by Ilie Jeciu, who personally led every stage — from initial planning and risk assessment through to execution and completion under full safety conditions. The operational team consisted of internationally certified commercial divers: Meravi Fetin, Comşa Ioan-Mădălin, Mariniuc Alexandru, Ignat Sergiu-Ionel, Hagiu Vlad, Şerbănescu Ştefan-Nicolae, and Băjanaru Eugen-Valentin.

The entire operation was carried out in strict compliance with SIMOPS safety protocols, supported by a 100-ton crane and a 500-ton barge, under the direct supervision of the competent navigation safety authorities. Following the salvage, the divers conducted a thorough underwater inspection of the entire area, removing any residual obstacles. The area was handed over clear for river traffic and in full compliance with environmental protection requirements.

Nemo Pro Diving S.R.L. is also actively engaged as a technical expert in discussions surrounding the salvage of the tugboat currently resting on the seabed at Midia Port — one of the most complex maritime interventions of its kind. According to specialists, such an operation begins with a complete assessment of the wreck’s position, degree of hull damage, depth, seabed type, and hydrometeorological conditions. In practice, salvage involves several critical stages: underwater inspections by divers and specialized equipment, technical scanning of the wreck, sealing breaches in the hull, dewatering compartments, stabilizing the structure, and then lifting or repositioning it using tugboats, floating cranes, pontoons, or auxiliary buoyancy systems. In certain cases, dredging or sediment removal around the wreck may also be required.

The Midia Port area presents particularly demanding conditions — strong currents, low visibility, and unpredictable weather — all of which directly affect the safety and efficiency of every phase of the intervention. The duration of such an operation can vary considerably: for a mid-sized tugboat, it may last from several days to several weeks, and in difficult conditions, the timeline can extend beyond a month. A comparable case from the same port — the capsizing of the vessel Queen Hind in November 2019 — saw the total timeline from sinking to recovery reach approximately three months.

“The salvage operation is of high complexity — the vessel is lying keel-up at a depth of 26 meters, with the superstructure and part of the stern buried in mud, which requires rotating the hull before any intervention can begin. This maneuver demands specialized diving equipment, a dedicated support vessel, and a high-tonnage crane. The use of air bags carries significant risk of uncontrolled lifting. The safe execution of the entire operation is essentially conditioned by stable meteorological conditions — and the Black Sea, by its very nature, is unpredictable.” – Ilie Jeciu, administrator of Nemo Pro Diving S.R.L.

“Every salvage operation is a complex mission that involves not only exceptional technical skills, but also an immense responsibility towards the safety of people, navigation, and the environment. I am proud of our team, which once again demonstrated that Romania has world-class professionals in the field of commercial diving.” – Ilie Jeciu, administrator of Nemo Pro Diving S.R.L.