The 1st Training for In-situ Conservation of Underwater Metal Heritage

The 1st Training for In-situ Conservation of Underwater Metal Heritage was conducted by the International Centre for Underwater Archaeology in the Zadar region from May 20th to 24th, 2024.

This new training program was developed by the International Centre for Underwater Archaeology in conjunction with Jean-Bernard Memet from A-Corros, Ian Donald MacLeod from Heritage Conservation Solutions and Pablo Pérez-Fuentes Ramos from Zineti, Cathodic protection.

The training was attended by Irene Muñoz González from Spain, Maria Facchinetti from Italy, Maja Pace Sausmekat from Malta and Sofia Roussou from Greece.

A five-day training program provides intensive workshops to familiarize conservators and archaeologists with in-situ corrosion studies on numerous iron shipwrecks and WWII aluminum alloy aircraft located in the Adriatic Sea. The training program is based on a 50/50 mix of theory courses and wreck dives. Marine corrosion, wreck monitoring, and cathodic protection are some of the topics covered in theoretical courses that are applied in practical exercises on three different wrecks: the modern shipwreck Ledenik near the island of Sestrunj, a WWII shipwreck in the bay of Soline at island Dugi otok, and a WWII wrecked plane Štuka dive bomber near the island of Žirje. 

The participants are trained in the use of underwater corrosion monitoring equipment. Following the dives, there were debriefing sessions held to facilitate the interpretation of the data and the formulation of strategies for monitoring and/or implementing cathodic protection. This program also provides opportunities for professionals in the fields of conservation, archaeology, and expertise related to the safeguarding and management of underwater cultural heritage to learn from cultural practices around Europe that are normally never found in published reports.