Subsea works, underwater UXO clearance and hyperbaric operations.
SEMTEC, the subsea subsidiary of DEMINETEC Group, brings underwater inspection, marine UXO clearance and hyperbaric works expertise to the port and industrial community of Luanda (Angola). Our Class II commercial divers — certified under French Decree 2011-45 (hyperbaric class B) and trained to NEDEX/EOD standards — operate on harbours, marine structures, ships' hulls and coastal areas contaminated by 20th-century conflicts.
Luanda is the capital of Angola, one of the world's most landmine-affected countries. Angola endured the war of independence against Portugal (1961-1974) and a civil war between MPLA, UNITA and FNLA from 1975 to 2002, with massive Soviet, Cuban, South African and U.S. interventions. The country was extensively mined, with an estimated 10 to 20 million landmines and millions of items of UXO laid across its territory.
Major demining operators — HALO Trust, Norwegian People's Aid, MAG, APOPO — and the Angolan national demining commission CNIDAH have cleared hundreds of thousands of mines and UXO over the past two decades, with high-profile patronage from the late Princess Diana and Prince Harry. Hotspots include Cuando-Cubango, Moxico, Bié and Huambo provinces.
Luanda itself, the port of Lobito and the Atlantic coast carry naval and aerial munitions legacies, particularly around former military estates and shipping lanes. The development of Luanda-Bengo Special Economic Zone, the Lobito Corridor railway to the DRC and Zambia, and major offshore oil and gas projects routinely require UXO desk studies and underwater magnetometric surveys aligned with IMAS standards and French Decree 2005-1325.
In-water survey by qualified divers, ultrasonic thickness through paint, 3D photogrammetry, IACS-class survey report for calls at Luanda.
Magnetometer and gradiometer survey, target identification, controlled neutralisation or recovery in coordination with local authorities.
Wet welding, oxy-arc cutting, underwater concreting, sheet-pile and quay repair.
Refloating of sunken vessels, recovery of submerged plant, crane-assisted lifting operations.
On-site recompression chamber deployment, compliant with French Decree 2011-45 and IMCA D guidance.
In the strategic port of Luanda, SEMTEC mobilises divers, observation ROVs and marine magnetometers to secure basins, jetties, approach channels and anchorages where 20th-century munitions still routinely lie on the seabed.
SEMTEC operates in Luanda and across Angola from our French bases at La Seyne-sur-Mer (Var) and Wancourt (Pas-de-Calais), our Belgian office in Bruges and our Ukrainian site in Kyiv. Diving spread and naval logistics are mobilised on demand.
Depending on Angola's history, port seabeds typically conceal sea mines (German EMC, British Mark XVII), submerged aerial bombs (250 kg–500 kg), torpedoes, large-calibre naval shells and depth charges. The preliminary EHT pinpoints the expected typology for Luanda.
Our Class II hyperbaric-class-B divers work to 50 m on air, and we coordinate longer-duration tasks down to 90 m through saturation partners. Observation ROVs extend reconnaissance to 300 m.
A standard UWILD/IWS on a commercial vessel takes 8–24 dive hours depending on hull length, complexity, coating condition and class requirements. SEMTEC issues the class report within 5 days.
Decree 2011-45 governs hyperbaric work in France. Internationally, SEMTEC uses it as a benchmark alongside IMCA D standards and the local regulations applicable in Angola.
For any survey, inspection or subsea intervention in Luanda, contact our teams:
Tel: +33 (0)9 52 51 00 63
Email: contact@semtec-france.com