by InTrieste
Regional officials in Trieste said Tuesday they are working to address mounting disruptions and costs faced by boat owners after the discovery of unexploded World War II ordnance halted dredging operations along the Barcola waterfront.
At a public meeting with vessel owners, Fabio Scoccimarro, the regional councillor for environmental protection, acknowledged the financial strain caused by the delays and said the administration is preparing economic compensation measures. Details, including eligibility criteria and timelines, are expected to be defined in the coming weeks.
“We understand the burden this situation is placing on many of you,” Scoccimarro said, adding that the regional government had intervened at the nearby harbor in response to requests from local companies. The goal of the meeting, he said, was to identify technical solutions in collaboration with those affected.
Work on the seabed, part of a broader effort to rehabilitate the small port area along Barcola’s seafront, was suspended after the unexpected discovery of hazardous materials. According to Scoccimarro, the interruption was not due to administrative delays but to safety concerns that emerged during initial operations.
Contractors first encountered significant quantities of special waste, followed by what officials described as a more serious threat: 17 unexploded devices dating back to World War II, found in shallow water at a depth of roughly one meter.
“Without realizing it, for years boats were navigating over what was effectively a powder keg,” Scoccimarro said.
Military bomb disposal units have since removed the devices. Subsequent surveys, conducted in accordance with national regulations and in collaboration with the National Institute of Oceanography and Applied Geophysics, identified 21 magnetic anomalies across the affected stretch of water. Officials said the most significant anomaly corresponds to the area where the ordnance had already been recovered, suggesting the risk is localized.
The regional government has committed to financing the cleanup with its own funds, which officials say are already allocated. Additional operations may involve specialized units of the Italian Navy trained in underwater mine clearance, mobilized on an urgent basis if further devices are found.
Despite the delays, Scoccimarro emphasized that the long-term objective remains unchanged: to deliver a renovated harbor with improved seabed conditions and, above all, enhanced safety.
“I am aware this situation is causing inconvenience and setbacks,” he said. “But these are obstacles that lay buried beneath the mud for 80 years. Our priority is to resolve them and return a safe and fully functional harbor to the community.”
