Visit to the Serbian Mine Action Center

On February 7, 2023, Anthony Greenwood, CEO of Diving Safety Management Services, visited the Serbian Mine Action Centre (SMAC) together with Phil Newsom, Executive Director of the Association of Diving Contractors International, and Jovana Sokolović, Head of Innovation at SmartDives from the UAE, where they met with SMAC Director Bojan Glamočlija. During the meeting, Mr. Greenwood expressed his gratitude to SMAC for the informative session and commended the organization for their efforts in underwater demining.

The meeting followed a workshop titled “Development and improvement of the commercial diving sector in Serbia,” which was organized by the Serbian Chamber of Commerce on February 3, 2023. The workshop brought together all stakeholders in underwater demining in Serbia as well as all commercial diving profesionals, creating a unique opportunity for collaboration and exchange of ideas.

During the meeting at SMAC, Mr. Glamočlija shared information with the guests about the current situation regarding mines, cluster munitions, aerial bombs, and other unexploded ordnance that are still present in Serbia, both on land and under water. The guests were also briefed on the needs and priorities of the country in the field of humanitarian demining and mine action as a whole.

The meeting provided a platform for the discussion of future directions of cooperation in the field of underwater demining in the Republic of Serbia. Mr. Greenwood expressed his interest in working together with SMAC to expand their business capacities and improve the commercial diving sector in the country.

As part of the visit, the guests also had the opportunity to visit the expanded business capacities of SMAC, including a classroom with a training ground for deminers in Grocka. This facility has hosted several international training courses in the field of mine action in the past, making it an ideal location for future collaborations.

The visit of Mr. Greenwood and other diving safety experts to SMAC marks an important step in the continued efforts to improve underwater demining and promote collaboration in the field. With the support of organizations like Diving Safety Management Services and the Association of Diving Contractors International, Serbia is well-positioned to expand their business capacities and achieve their goals in mine action.