WILLEMSTAD - Naval divers have started the retrieval of a large pontoon that obstructs the passage for deeper ships in the water near the oil refinery, as announced by the Caribbean Defense Region.
The pontoon, which measures 30 meters in length, 10 meters in width, and 2.5 meters in height, is challenging to lift out of the water. As a result, it is being cut into pieces at a depth of 8 meters.
The military divers began the operation last year, but it quickly became apparent that heavier equipment was required for the underwater conditions to accomplish the task. This year, they returned better prepared with the right equipment and expertise.
On Monday and Tuesday, the divers successfully brought the first two sections of the pontoon to the surface using cranes. The remaining three sections will be retrieved one by one.
In addition to their efforts at Bullenbaai, the naval divers used Caracasbaai as a training location for deep-sea diving.