Professional Diver, Winter 2022, Issue 04

WINTER 2022 • ISSUE 4

TECHNOLOGY

USING OFFSHORE

DEVELOPMENTS

INSHORE

SCUBA OR SURFACE SUPPLY

KEY FACTORS TO CONSIDER

A CRITICAL RESOURCE

ALWAYS A PLACE FOR HUMAN SKILLS

ADC: The Association representing diving contractors

involved with Inland/Inshore operations in the UK and Ireland

www.ProfessionalDiver.co.uk

Fairlocks Angle Grinder_Fairlocks 13/06/2018 08:44 Page 1

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Battery:

Wheel diameter:

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Net weight:

Overall length:

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2 PROFESSIONAL DIVER • WINTER 2022

WELCOME

EDITORIAL

Publisher/Editor: Taira Caton

taira@professionaldiver.co.uk

Tel: 0333 121 5474

Copy Editor/Contributor: John Hancock

john@professionaldiver.co.uk

CONTRIBUTORS

Paul Edwards, EDS;

Alistair Blue, Briggs Marine;

Hughes Subsea;

Commercial Rib Charter.

ADVERTISEMENTS

Call 0333 121 5474

sales@professionaldiver.co.uk

MAGAZINE PRODUCTION AND PRINTING

Dean Cook, The Magazine Production

Company, tel: 01273 911730

deancook@magazineproduction.com

Professional Diver is a magazine

published by UK ADC Ltd

PO Box 3138, Reading. RG1 9FN. UK

Tel: 0333 121 5474

Registered in England and Wales, 10382894.

Registered office: 1 Cedar Office Park,

Cobham Road, Wimborne, BH21 7SB

©2022 UK ADC Ltd. All rights reserved. No part

of this publication may be reproduced or

transmitted in any form or by any means without

the prior written consent of the Publishers.

Great care is taken to ensure accuracy in the

preparation of this publication, but neither UK

ADC Ltd or the editor can be held responsible for

its contents. The views expressed are those of

the contributors and not necessarily those of the

Publishers. UK ADC Ltd.

DISCLAIMER: The Association of Diving

Contractors (the “Association”) provides any

information, education and advice in good

faith to its members for their convenience and

reference. The Association accepts no liability

for anything contained in the information

provided or for the consequences of using

such information in commercial contracting

or otherwise. The employees and agents of

the Association, including without limitation

the Association Secretary, are not responsible

in any way for the commercial or business

consequences of using any Association

resources or information provided or received

in Association materials or during Association

events. If you are in any doubt about the

commercial or legal effect of any action, please

take independent legal advice.

Welcome to the latest Professional Diver. As you read this, we

will have finalised preparations for our AGM this year, being

held in Birmingham once again. Last year’s AGM was a great

success with some fantastic speakers and high attendance

from members. We hope to repeat this and, so far, the

attendance is looking much higher than normal.

We will be sharing an update on how ADC has performed

over the past year with some industry updates and a line-up of

great speakers.

We are now back to operating as per normal and have

set dates for our regional meetings this year. Thanks to our

hosts JFD, HSE and The Historical Diving Society, we will be

issuing agendas shortly and look forward to catching up with

members regionally. The focus will be very much on addressing

any key issues and concerns as well as moving forward with

the production and review of key guidance documents. All input

we receive from members is valued and we appreciate how

our members are always keen to get involved and provide their

valuable input and experience.

Our latest edition of Professional Diver focuses on technology

and how the adoption of technology in Diving can support

diving jobs as well as improve diver safety but not replace

divers.

We hope our article on using Scuba or Surface Supply will

make you think twice when considering the right equipment in

terms of diver safety.

Looking forward to seeing members at our AGM.

Enjoy our latest edition of Professional Diver and ‘STAY SAFE’.

CONTENTS

5 Offshore technology

for inshore challenges

Some technology developed for

the offshore sector can also be

a valuable tool onshore.

8 Company Focus:

Hughes Subsea

Services Ltd (HSSL)

Offering a range of services with

agility, to adapt to any challenge.

10 Scuba or Surface

Supply?

The attributes of SCUBA and

Surface supply for different

types of diving.

12 Seawork 2022

A good event for ADC and stand

sharing members.

14 ADC AGM 2021

Report from a successful

meeting.

16 Breathe safely

The most basic and critical

requirement for diving is

clean air.

18 Company Member

Focus: Commercial Rib

Charter

Commercial Rib Charter

provides vessels for a range of

commercial needs.

20 Commercial diving

Autonomous technology is

good but only a diver can deal

with complex and changing

conditions.

COVER IMAGE Courtesy of Commercial Rib Charter

PROFESSIONAL DIVER • WINTER 2022 3

ADC Publications

ADC INLAND/INSHORE

DIVERS LOG BOOK

ADC Inland/Inshore Divers Log

Book with record of Supervisor

Activity. 177 pages with the

option to log 5 daily dives per

page. 18 pages to log record of

supervisor activity

Member Price: £22.00

Non-Member price: £25.50

ADC INLAND/INSHORE

DIVING SUPERVISORS LOG

BOOK

ADC Inland/Inshore Diving

Supervisors Log Book.

199 pages with the option to log

3 daily dives per page.

Member Price: £22.00

Non-Member price: £25.50

THE INSHORE DIVING

SUPERVISORS MANUAL

Loose Leaf A5 size ADC Diving

Supervisors Manual. Second

Edition – Issue 6

Member Price £30.00

Non-Member Price: £45.00

VAT not applicable

MF 001 — MODEL SAFETY

MANAGEMENT SYSTEM

ADC-MSMS-001 Issue 1 Model

Safety Management System



VAT not applicable

MF 002 — MODEL FORMAT

FOR THE ASSURANCE

OF DIVING PLANT AND

EQUIPMENT

ADC-MF002 Issue 1. Model

Format for the Assurance of

Diving Plant and Equipment

applicable to Diving Contractors

Working Inland/Inshore in the UK

and Ireland.



VAT not applicable

MF 003 — MODEL FORMAT

FOR THE CREATION OF A

CHAMBER OPERATORS

HANDBOOK

ADC-MF003 Issue 1. Model Format

for the creation of a Chamber

Operators Handbook



VAT not applicable

COP:001 — CONDUCTING

DIVING OPERATIONS

IN CONNECTION WITH

RENEWABLE ENERGY

PROJECTS.

ADC – CoP:001 Issue 2. Code of

Practice for ‘Conducting Diving

Operations in Connection with

Renewable Energy Projects’.



VAT not applicable

To order, visit: www.adc-uk.info/shop

All pricing ex VAT. Price includes postage to a UK location.

Commercial diving

A critical human resource in the age of technology

In the age where technology rules, it’s easy to

dismiss human resource or intervention. As

General Manager for the Diving Department

at Briggs Marine, my thoughts on why

commercial divers will always play a vital role in

an increasingly autonomous world are shared

in the article below.

Each commercial diving project presents its

own unique set of challenges. From the planning

stages right through to a detailed debrief and

report at the end of the dive, every aspect

of the job calls on the knowledge, hard-won

experience and determination of the dive team.

Briggs Marine’s diving teams are highly trained

and experienced in providing asset protection

services to support subsea inspection,

construction, repair and engineering services

projects in remote and challenging locations.

Floating vessels, platforms, pipelines,

power cables and dams

Commercial diving encompasses a broad

range of services that are mission-critical for

the assurance of marine operations and safe

maintenance of subsea assets.

All floating vessels, including barges, oil rigs,

boats and ships, need regular underwater

inspections for safety and regulatory purposes.

Surveys and inspections that can be carried out

whilst the vessel is in the water can save both

time and money for the operator, compared

to costly and time-consuming dry dock works.

Briggs Marine divers are approved for in-water

inspection by ABS, DNV, Lloyds Register and NKK.

We are the class surveyor’s eyes under the water

“From the planning stages

right through to a detailed

debrief and report at the

end of the dive, every

aspect of the job calls

on the knowledge, hardwon

experience and

determination of the dive

team.”


and provide survey and inspection services

across the UK and in The Falkland Islands.

Sometimes, inspections uncover the need for

emergency or ad-hoc repair works and these

can vary greatly in complexity. Challenges range

from removing debris from vessel propellers

and thrusters or clearing obstructions from

lock gates for port authorities, right through to

repairing and patching the hulls of vessels whilst

still afloat.

Subsea power cables require specific

intervention when inspection and repairs are

due, particularly if they are situated in shallow

water that is inaccessible for ROVs. Briggs Marine

divers have worked on cable installation and

repair projects at numerous offshore wind

sites around the UK, supporting cable recovery,

cutting and rigging and other tasks to complete

jobs safely and efficiently.

Our divers also work on surveys and

inspections for a range of other assets, including

oil and gas pipelines and distillery outfall pipes

(inspection and installation) as well as hydro

power stations and dams. Dams require regular

surveys, cleaning, stop-log fitting and removal

among other routine and ad-hoc tasks in order

to operate safely and efficiently.

Salvage, recovery and unexploded

ordnance (UXO)

Another critical element of the work undertaken

by commercial divers is that of salvage and

debris recovery. Projects range from clearing

cable routes of boulders and other debris to

salvaging and supporting the surfacing of

wrecks.

All commercial divers work with a permanent

awareness of unexploded ordnance (UXO). UXO

“Another critical element of the work undertaken by

commercial divers is that of salvage and debris recovery.

Projects range from clearing cable routes of boulders

and other debris to salvaging and supporting the surfacing

of wrecks.”


“…there is sometimes

also an input or intake

pipeline as well as an

outfall, and often these

systems require significant

quantities of water.”

requires various types of intervention, from risk

assessment to removal, from highly skilled and

specialist divers. Briggs Marine calls on a pool of

specialist resource (some ex-Royal Navy divers)

to complement its existing team on these types

of projects.

The human element

Today’s autonomous technology is enhancing

our understanding of the oceans, which is

essential if we are to provide better stewardship

of this global resource both now and in the

future. Alongside this technology, commercial

divers continue to play a vital role in safe marine

operations and maintenance. A dynamic and

agile dive team can respond quickly to varied

and complex requirements and provide rapid

intervention, often in confined spaces and with

zero visibility, to keep ships moving and ports

open for trade.

Briggs Marine is a member of the Association

of Diving Contractors (ADC) and our Inshore

Diving Supervisors are all ADC certified. ADC

Supervisor Certification is a seal of approval that

indicates a broad range of knowledge across

all aspects of the skills required for both inshore

and nearshore dive sites. Our Offshore Dive

Supervisors hold IMCA Offshore Diving Supervisor

certification, reinforcing that they have fulfilled

the training requirements of the IMCA Diving

Supervisor scheme and passed the relevant

IMCA examination.

In addition to industry certification, Briggs

Marine has developed its own inhouse training

programme, an extremely thorough and

comprehensive course of e-learning that has

been checked and approved by the Class

Societies. The course covers every element of

floating vessels and platforms and, combined

with practical experience, this stands the

team in good stead to tackle the multitude of

challenges that they may be confronted with

under the water.

“A dynamic and agile dive

team can respond quickly

to varied and complex

requirements and provide

rapid intervention…”


COMPANY MEMBER FOCUS

Hughes Subsea

Services Ltd (HSSL)

Hughes Subsea Services

Ltd (HSSL) was founded

in 2019 by Ian Hughes

and has been proudly part of

the OEG Group since 2021. The

company is managed by a

highly skilled workforce with

over 100 years of combined

experience in Underwater and

Offshore IRM/Construction

Projects. We benefit from a

solid reputation within the

industry for delivering added

value in the form of safe,

reliable and cost-effective

solutions. HSSL has earned

an international reputation

for providing an innovative

and high-quality service;

our clients appreciate our

collaborative, flexible and

responsive approach.

Utilising innovative subsea

techniques with modern

robotic and remote tooling,

our core service offering has

evolved to include full seabed

or site clearance:

• UXO Identification,

Relocation, Disposal and Site

Certification;

• Boulder Relocation and

Debris Removal;

• Commercial Diving Services;

and…

• Remotely Operated Vehicle

Technologies.

HSSL is a company which prides

itself on providing the highest

quality services throughout

every project regardless of size,

scope or cost.

Since our foundation, there

has been a consistently

realised policy of completing

all projects on time and

on budget, with minimal

inconvenience to the client

and with a high-quality

service delivered to satisfy

any need. We apply ourselves

to any challenge in the most

vigorous possible manner, and

we always strive to impress,

achieving the objectives of

a given project safely and

efficiently. To demonstrate this

HSSL are members (in addition

to the ADC) of the following

organisations:


What makes HSSL different?

Firstly, we work hard to cultivate an extremely

flexible ‘can do’ attitude; striving to adapt and

overcome every challenge we face in a creative

and efficient manner.

Above all, we work in

close partnership with

our clients, and their

requirements remain

our top priority at all

times. Our constant

focus is to assist in any

way we can, working

collaboratively to

ensure that every

project is carried out

successfully — right from the start.

Secondly, we employ only highly experienced

engineers with wide-ranging competencies

in Subsea Engineering, Civil Engineering and

Offshore Construction, both above and below

the waterline. Our onshore and offshore teams

work collectively to ensure that your project is

always performed safely, on time and within

budget.

Finally with the acquisition of its own Explosive

License in 2021, HSSL now has the equipment,

personnel and licenses ‘inhouse’ to provide the

full range of UXO services. From identification to

ALARP certification. For more information use the

email info@hughes-subsea.com.

13

15

TO

JUNE

2023 Southampton

United Kingdom

Seawork is open for business – all year

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Seawork & Marine Civils exhibition encompasses 12,000m 2

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contact: +44 1329 825 335

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Scuba or

Surface

Supply?

The importance of security

of gas supply, communication

and diver location

This is a decision that should be based on

the appropriateness of the equipment not

its convenience i.e. use it because it is the

right equipment for the job in terms of diver

safety — not because it will be easier or less

expensive to use.

Under the Inland/Inshore ACoP L104, SCUBA

may be acceptable for use in simple tasks (such

as inspection) in clear water where there is no

risk of entanglement, or in ‘benign’ conditions.

It still requires the use of a full-face mask with

communications, an independent reserve air

supply and a life line attached. Its use also

requires the management of an emergency to

be considered as well as being justified with a

full risk assessment.

Scuba is generally disapproved of in

most commercial applications

Industry exceptions are:

• Media

• Police

• Military

• Scientific and archaeological diving –

however, they will also use surface supply

wherever possible

It is absolutely not acceptable for construction

or off shore activities or any activity where

there is poor visibility and therefore a risk of

entrapment.

Disadvantages of Scuba

• There is a finite supply of breathing gas

carried by the diver;

• If there is no line to surface and no voice

communications, the diver will not be

able to alert the surface in the event of an

emergency;

• If there is no line to the surface the surface

team will not know the depth of a freeswimming

diver or how to find them;

• Only limited back up gas supplies can be

carried should there be a problem with the

primary supply;

• If the diver is not tended via a lifeline there is

a greater likelihood of buoyancy problems

leading to serious incidents (e.g., exposure to

Image courtesy of MMC Diving Services

unintended depths);


“It is a simple matter to provide both surface

and in-water back up air supplies should

there be a problem with the primary supply…”

• If there is no line to the surface the diver can

easily become separated and lost;

• SCUBA equipment tends to be less robust

to harsh conditions and is more likely to

become damaged.

Advantages of Surface Supply

• There is an unlimited source of breathing

gas available to the diver via their umbilical.

(Theoretically unlimited — depends on

available supply);

• There is always a line attached to the diver, so

it is always possible either to pull them to the

surface or at least to find them in the event of

an emergency;

• It is easy to remain in voice communication

with the diver via hard-wired comms;

• The surface team can ascertain the depth of

the diver accurately at any time;

• It is a simple matter to provide both surface

and in-water back up air supplies should

there be a problem with the primary supply;

• The umbilical helps prevent problems with

buoyancy (e.g., inadvertently sinking to

unplanned depths);

• The diver cannot become separated and lost.

Of course, the above points would not hold true

if the diver’s umbilical were to be severed — this

is a highly unusual occurrence and the surface

team should seek to ensure that the diving

umbilical is protected from damage at all times.


Seawork 2022

ADC’s successful presence at an upbeat event

Having missed the last two

years of Seawork due to COVID,

this year’s 23rd Seawork, over

three days in June, was a much

anticipated industry event.

Held in Southampton, this is one

of Europe’s largest on-water

commercial marine exhibitions

offering unique undercover

exhibition space, open air

demonstrations and floating

displays.

For ADC, Seawork is an

opportunity to meet with

members and industry

professionals. This year the

member companies stand

sharing with us were Edwards

Diving Services, O’Three,

Malakoff and The Underwriting

Exchange. The ADC stand,

located in the Dive work

Pavillion near the Dive tank, was

very busy across all three days.

The Dive Tank was supplied

by JFD Subsea. The Dive Team

running the Dive Tank across

the three days, MMC Diving

Services, did an excellent job

with drawing in the crowds and

keeping demonstrations and

activities going throughout

those three days.

It was great to hear that

the Inland/Inshore sector has

picked up significantly and

this was very obvious from the

amount of interested clients

visiting the stand and the

overall positive atmosphere.

ADC is already planning

to attend Seawork in 2023.

Members interested in stand

sharing should contact the

ADC Secretary at the earliest

if they wish to be on the ADC

stand at Seawork 2023 on the

13th to 15th June 2023

MARINE & CIVIL ENGINEERING CONTRACTORS


ADC Members

ASSOCIATE MEMBERS

Environment Agency

JFD Ltd & National

Hyperbaric Centre

Submarine Manufacturing

& Products Ltd

The Superintendent of Diving

TWI Technology

Centre North East

DDRC Healthcare

Arch Henderson LLP

University of Plymouth

Interdive Services Ltd

Canal & River Trust

Consortium Underwater Eng Ltd

Herbosch-Kiere UK Ltd

Professional Diving Academy

Tritex NDT Ltd

RNLI

QinetiQ

Health & Safety Authority

RWE Renewables UK Ltd

C-Tecnics Ltd

Hytech-Pommec

The Underwriting Exchange

United Utilities

Prodive Consultancy Ltd

Charles Cleghorn Ltd


O’Three Ltd

Northern Rib Hire

KB Associates Europe Ltd

Unique Seaflex Ltd (UK)

Fairlocks Pool Products

Diving Equipment Services Ltd

JW Automarine

Namaka Subsea

iSubC Diving Equipment Ltd

Triton Grey Ltd

Commercial Diver Training Ltd

Bauer Kompressoren UK Ltd

RPS Group Ltd

BAE Systems Surface Ships Ltd

Dive Safe Services Ltd

Dive Systems Technical

Services Ltd

BIM - Bord Iascaigh Mhara

SUBMERTEC Ltd

CORRESPONDING MEMBERS

Deep-Marine Ltd

Gulf Marine Contracting FZE

Synergy Sub Sea Engineering LLC

Barracuda Diving & Marine

Service

SUBSERVICES SL

Tidal Ports & Marine

Construction Contracting LLC

SMARTDIVES LLC

Deep Ocean Marine Services

Techno Marine Diving

Services LLC (TMDS)

UWPS - UnderWater

Professional Services

Dive Marine Services

(Gibraltar) Ltd

Inter Dive Marine Services LLC

Novel Marine Services LLC

Masirah International

Leander Consultancy Ltd

Resolve Marine

Inter Dive Diving Services

International Diving

Schools Assoc.

Hull Diving Services

Aquatec Marine Services Ltd

Kirby Morgan Dive Systems Inc

FULL MEMBERS

Andark Ltd

CDMS Sub-Surface

Engineering Ltd

Seawork Marine Services Ltd

Falmouth Divers Limited

Kaymac Marine & Civil

Engineering Limited

Northern Divers (Eng) Ltd

Reach Engineering & Diving

Services Ltd

Salvesen (UK) Ltd

Sealift Diving Limited

Seawide Services Limited

Sub Aqua Diving Services Ltd

Isle of Man Government

Harbour Marine Diving

Contractors Ltd

Grampian Diving Services

Shearwater Marine Services Ltd

DiveTech UK

Hulltec Limited

Irish Sea Contractors Ltd

James Fisher Marine

Services Limited

Seatec UK Limited

Bridgeway Consulting Limited

Red7 Inshore Diving Ltd

Caldive Limited

Ocean Kinetics Limited

Malakoff Ltd

Quest Underwater Services Ltd

Leask Marine Ltd

Seatech Commercial

Diving Services Ltd

North West Marine Ltd

KBS Maritime Ltd

ABCO Divers Ltd

Edwards Diving Services Ltd

SULA Diving Ltd

Underwater Diving Services Ltd

Babcock Marine

Teignmouth Maritime

Services Ltd

Xeiad Ltd

Serco Ltd

Commercial and

Specialised Diving Ltd

Durrant Diving & Engineering

Services Ltd

Sealane Inshore Ltd

Norfolk Marine & General Ltd

Norfolk Marine Ltd

Associated Diving Services Ltd

Valkyrie Diving Services

Lochs Diving Services Ltd

Aberdeen Marine Ltd

Gareloch Support

Services (Plant) Ltd

Briggs Marine Contractors Ltd

Millennium Marine

Contractors Ltd

Specialised Diving Services

MMC Diving Services

DiveCo Marine Ltd

RS Divers Ltd

Dive and Marine

Contractors Limited

DCN Diving UK

DSMC

Divers UK (International) Ltd

Constructex Ltd

Geomarine Jersey Limited

Marine & Civil Solutions Ltd

Aegean Diving Services Ltd

Underwater Construction

Corporation UK Ltd

Clyde Commercial Diving Ltd

The SMS Group Ltd

RockSalt Subsea Ltd

Hughes Subsea Services Ltd

Inspire Structures Ltd

MSDS Marine Ltd

Apex Diving & Marine

Subsea Marine Ltd

Commercial Diving

and Maritime Ltd

Coastal Diving &

Marine Services Ltd

Quay Diving Services

Kew Diving

UK Diveworks Commercial Ltd

Sellafield Ltd

Port of London Authority

Salvage & Marine Operations IPT

Wessex Archaeology


Birmingham, November 2021

ADC AGM 2021

The AGM is held annually for Members, towards the latter part of the year.

It’s an annual event where the Inland/Inshore Industry representatives and

members take the opportunity to catch up with their peers, network, and

share ideas and best practice.

As the previous year’s

event had been

cancelled due to COVID,

members were keen to meet

and use the opportunity to

understand each other’s

challenges faced during this

period as well as to celebrate

and discuss achievements

over the past two years.

The AGM was attended by Full,

Associate and Corresponding

members as well as Judith

Tetlow, the HSE Chief Inspector

of Diving. It also provides a

good opportunity for the ADC

to update its members on how

it is performing, with what has

been progressed and is being

worked on for the benefit of

members and the industry as

a whole.

There was an interesting mix

of speakers over the two-day

event, covering Health & Safety,

Navy Diving and the use of

Sonar in Diving. This included

our Guest Speaker Chris

Lemons.

Chris is a deep-sea

Saturation Diver who was

involved in a catastrophic

accident which left him

stranded 300 feet below the

surface of the treacherous

North Sea, with no light, heat or

breathing gas for 35 minutes.

His miraculous survival is the

subject of the hit Neflix/BBC

documentary Last Breath.

It was an excellent and very

well delivered presentation of

a truly amazing story of human

survival. Chris presented it in a

most self-effacing and modest

manner putting a strong

emphasis on the determination

and team spirit of his fellow

divers who enabled his

remarkable rescue. The

feedback from the audience

was brilliant.

The AGM is also a great

opportunity for the industry to

nominate and issue awards to

recognise achievements and

improvements.

We were pleased to present

awards as below.

Client representative

Award to Scottish Water for

‘Contributing towards Diver

Safety’.


Peter Farrer, Chief Operating

Officer at Scottish Water

said: “We’re delighted to have

been recognised for the

improvements we have

made to our contractor

selection and management

processes in relation to diving

operations, which is obviously

a very important issue for us

because the health and safety

of our staff, and those of all

of our contractors including

diving contractors, is a top

priority.”

Outstanding Contribution

to Industry Sector, Supervisor

Award to Graham Weston for

‘Outstanding Work Training New

Divers’

After nine years in the Royal

Navy as a submariner, Graham

decided to leave his submarine

and become a Commercial

Diver. He trained at PDA before

working back in Plymouth, this

time cleaning the outside of

submarines instead of the

inside!

He then started working for

CDM where he was recruited

to help with the dive school.

He has been with CDT from

the start and has helped

train many divers over the

years whilst keeping himself

grounded by rotating back

into the working environment

inshore and offshore. The

feedback from divers he

has trained shows how well

deserved this award is.

Associate member award to

SMP Ltd for Excellent Services to

Industry.

SMP were nominated by

Commercial Rib Charter for

excellent design support and

service for the new dive spread

on their new 20m catamaran.

SMP have been part of the

diving world for years and

are very well known within the

diving industry; therefore it

was good to see them being

recognised for the great work

they do.

2022’s AGM will be held in

Birmingham on the 15th and

16th of November.

NEW MEMBERS

Please welcome the following recent new

members to the Association.

Subsea Marine Ltd (Ireland)

Full Member

Commercial Diving and

Maritime Ltd (UK)

Full Member

Kew Diving Services Ltd (UK)

Full Member

Quay Diving Services Ltd (UK)

Full Member

UK Diveworks Commercial Ltd

(UK)

Full Member

Coastal Diving & Marine

Services Ltd (UK)

Full Member

Bauer Kompressoren UK Ltd (UK)

Associate Member

Commercial Diver

Training Ltd (UK)

Associate Member

Dive Safe Services Limited (UK)

Associate Member

DiveSource Limited (UK)

Associate Member

Dive Systems Technical

Services Ltd (UK)

Associate Member

RPS Group Ltd (Ireland)

Associate Member

Members contact details new and old can be found

on the ADC website: www.adc-uk.info/find-a-member/

Dive Marine Services

(Gibraltar) Ltd (Gibraltar)

Corresponding Member

Inter Dive Marine

Services LLC (UAE)


Leander Consultancy


Novel Marine Services LLC (UAE)


Resolve Marine Services


Techno Marine Diving

Services LLC (UAE)


UWPS: Upderwater Professional

Services (Czech Republic)


DATES FOR YOUR DIARIES

• 15-16 November 2022: ADC AGM Birmingham

• 22 March 2023: Northern Regional Meeting – HSE Science

& Research Centre Buxton

• 19 April 2023: Scottish Regional Meeting – JFD Aberdeen

• 10 May 2023: Southern Regional Meeting – The Historical

Diving Society - Gosport

• 13-15 June 2023: Seawork 2023 Southampton

• 14-15 November 2023: ADC AGM – Birmingham


Breathe safely

Clean air is a prerequisite for a safe and healthy work

environment. By Bauer Kompressoren UK Limited

For BAUER, protecting the health of

breathing air consumers has always been

paramount. Since the successful launch of

the B-DETECTION PLUS online gas measurement

system and the B-VIRUS FREE protective filter

system, market sectors such as the Emergency

Services, Damage Control, Defence, Diving and

Oil & Gas have all benefited from the knowledge

and security that the compressed air they

breathe is safe and within prescribed limits.

B-VIRUS FREE

B-VIRUS FREE is a highly effective breathing

air protection against SARS-CoV-2 and other

pathogens. A solution that eliminates viruses at

the air intake stage, the system is designed to

protect firefighters, divers, pressure chamber

operators and medical staff from these hazards

whenever they require respiratory equipment for

their daily operations.

The B-VIRUS FREE protective filter system

reliably neutralizes — depending on the charging

rate of the compressor — up to 99.9% of corona

viruses, bacteria and special moulds from the

intake air.

the compressor. The highly effective 254-nm

UV wavelength is absorbed by the pathogens’

DNA, where the photons destroy the bonds

between the DNA strands of the viruses, bacteria

and mould spores and prevent them from

reproducing. Following a rigorous programme of

testing, B-VIRUS FREE has achieved certification

from the world-renowned Fraunhofer Institute.

B-DETECTION PLUS

The threat of carbon monoxide was the subject

of a fascinating article by Gavin Anthony in

the Spring 2020 edition of Professional Diver

Magazine. In addition, the HSE report during the

recent AGM at Birmingham, suggested that air

quality testing, using standard methods, could

be inaccurate.

So, how protected are you from carbon

monoxide when you are diving?

The maximum interval between air quality tests

according to N.A 4.2 of BS EN12021:2014

Even when your BAUER compressor is

operated and maintained in line with

B-Virus Free

Brilliantly simple and wholly effective, the

chemical and ozone-free technology of the

patent-pending B-VIRUS FREE System uses a

special UV light source to destroy pathogens

in the intake air flow before they can reach

“The B-VIRUS FREE

protective filter system

reliably neutralizes

— depending on the

charging rate of the

compressor — up to 99.9%

of corona viruses, bacteria

and special moulds from

the intake air.”


“It ensures that breathing air cylinders are filled with ‘clean’

air only, and that diving personnel breathe nothing but air

that complies with DIN EN 12021:2014 specifications.”

professional standards, certain

environmental conditions,

which can occur at any time

between scheduled air quality

tests, may cause breathing

air to become contaminated

with hazardous substances

including CO, CO2 and VOCs.

BAUER tackled this problem by

developing its own in-house

gas measurement system —

the B-DETECTION PLUS.

A gas measurement system

has the purpose of measuring

and monitoring all predefined

gases in continuous operation.

It ensures that breathing

air cylinders are filled with

‘clean’ air only, and that diving

personnel breathe nothing but

air that complies with DIN EN

12021:2014 specifications.

It is available in three

versions: B-DETECTION PLUS i

(integral to the compressor

unit), B-DETECTION PLUS s

(a standalone unit for fulltime,

online monitoring) and

B-DETECTION PLUS m (a mobile

version).

Bauer Kompressoren UK Ltd

Tel: 01942 724248


COMPANY MEMBER FOCUS


From local start-up to major contractor, Commercial Rib Charter tackles a

range of projects

Established in 2001, Commercial Rib Charter

is the trading name of Solent Rib Charters

Ltd. which was started in the Solent

providing bareboat and corporate charters of

8-meter Open Ribs. After ten years of steady

growth in the local area, culminating with a

contract to provide over 60 Ribs for the 2012

London Olympic Games, we began seeing a

demand for our Open Ribs on commercial

projects, providing safety and guard boat

services. Since 2012, growth in our commercial

sector has been strong and we have built and

purchased a range of vessels to explore wider

opportunities. Today, we have ten Cabin Ribs,

three catamarans and a ground-breaking

‘amphibious crew transfer vessel’ currently in

build, supplemented by a healthy fleet of over

25 Open Ribs.

The vast majority of our commercial clients

are involved in offshore renewables and most

of our work is centred around providing vessels

for wind farm crew transfers, interconnector

cable landings, offshore dive support, surveying,

and safety boat services. We operate out of our

office and workshop in Lymington, Hampshire,


“With two IMCA approved dive

support vessels in the fleet,

Commercial Rib Charter can quickly

provide the vessels you need for a

number of applications…”

with around 25 full time staff.

In 2020 we purchased ‘CRC Sentinel’, our largest

vessel ever; it is a shallow draft, high speed dive

boat, complete with a 4-point anchor spread

and an integrated three diver air/nitrox panel, HP

compressor, 125m umbilicals and a slick video

recording suite. Sentinel also boasts a survey

pole and retains full seating for 12 pax for crew

transfer duties making her a very versatile vessel.

Sentinel’s first significant dive project began

earlier this year, working for a Belgian company

on a five-month contract to assist with four

cable landings for the Hollandse Kust Noord

offshore wind farm. Sentinel was chartered

as a truly multi-purpose catamaran, carrying

out nearshore and offshore surveying with a

multibeam echo sounder, crew transfers to

various installation vessels, and dive support

during the cable landings themselves.

Sentinel’s main role during these landings was

to position the vessel close to the floating cable

as it is winched ashore from the cable laying

vessel. Divers are then sent down to cut floats

and ensure the cable is sunk in a predetermined

corridor, often with a tolerance of less than 10

meters. One of Sentinel’s most attractive features

is its ability to move along the cable route using

its four winches rather than the engines, providing

a swift and safe method for divers to continue

working whilst reducing the amount of surfacing

and repositioning of the anchors.

With two IMCA approved dive support vessels

in the fleet, Commercial Rib Charter can quickly

provide the vessels you need for a number of

applications, including ship maintenance, dock

and quay repairs, cable burial, underwater

cutting and monopile inspections.

Contact us on 01590 607103 or email us at

info@commercialribcharter.co.uk with your

requirements.

CRC SENTINEL – SPECIFICATION

• Length 19m, Beam 6.7m, Draft 1.2m;

• Machinery – 2x MAN D2862 V12s with Rolls-

Royce waterjets;

• Generators – 2x Cummins Onan 13.5kVa

230V;

• Equipment – 1x Bonfiglioli P7200 Deck

Crane;

• Speed – 22kts cruising, 29kts sprint;

• Mooring – 4x Hercules Hydraulics winches,

4x 200kg HHP anchors, 4x 450m Dyneema;

• Panel – IMCA DO23 3 diver air/nitrox

spread;

• Recording – AxSub Rackmount and AxView

Blackbox with 3x Cameras and Lights;

• Communications – C-Tecnics C-Phone 4R;

• Power – 1x APC Smart-UPS;

• Compressor – Integrated HP Coltri

MCH11EM;

• Umbilicals – 3x Fibron 125m;

• Cylinders – 6x 200 Bar 50L (air), 8x 200 Bar

50L (nitrox) and 2x 200 Bar 50L stand-by.


Offshore technology for

inshore challenges

Inshore diving from a new perspective with technologies developed in

offshore work adding real benefits for inshore and inland contracts.

Words: Paul Edwards, EDS

For decades, the best resourced commercial

diving sector has been around offshore

oil and gas, a now life limited sector. But

there are many developments in equipment,

methods and working practices from offshore

that the inshore sector can usefully incorporate

to make our work easier and better. In this

article, we’ll look at a few that have already

proved their worth in the onshore sector.

INSHORE DIVERS LEVELLING UP

Offshore has, in recent times, enjoyed eye

watering budgets which have supported huge

technology advances and, if it is to survive,

the inshore sector must also take advantage

of those developments. As readers will know,

there is a growing quest for alternative energy

supplies which means that, for inshore Diving

Contractors, opportunities abound. Solar, Wind,

Hydropower and Nuclear are areas in which the

specialist skills of inshore divers can help create

a cleaner/greener environment. But we’ll need

to educate potential clients in those industries

about what we can bring to their programmes.

OFFSHORE TECHNOLOGY UTILISED

INSHORE

I recently saw this old ROV (Remotely Operated

Vehicle) used as a garden ornament in a hotel; it

reminded me of my time in the Navy more than

thirty years ago when these were an effective

way for disposing of mines.

Then, an ROV will have cost hundreds of

thousands of pounds (probably more). Since

then, the world’s Navies have spent a fortune

researching and developing this technology

(see below) so we don’t need to. Modern ROVs

are a cost-effective tool for any diving company.

ROVs won’t ever replace human divers but they

can form part of the diver’s toolkit. Often an ROV

can make a site safer and get safety critical

information faster and more easily than a diver.

They should be considered more in our everyday

work.

Let’s look at few real world examples where

the deployment of technology developed for

offshore work can add value and safety to

inshore and freshwater diving work.

WORKING SMARTER NOT HARDER

The first case was a Reservoir which required

de-watering. It was a classic example of not

knowing what was there before we deployed

the ROV. We knew that none of the valves were

working, so they were not able to draw the

reservoir down, but nobody had any idea why

the valves would not work and what, exactly, was

there. If a diver had been drawn into a pipe, the

consequences could be catastrophic; but an

ROV ran less risk.


There were six platforms within the tower, with

the only valve low enough and known to be

working being blocked. An ROV was deployed

within the tower and identified an additional

flange that was open to the elements. The ROV

was sucked into the pipework identifying a DPDZ

(Differential Pressure Danger Zone) and had to

remain there for 18 months. When, after much

negotiation, a diver was deployed, they were

able to avoid the DPDZ and repaired the other

lower valves enabling the reservoir to be drained

at a controlled rate. Knowing that there was a

differential pressure at a certain level made it a

lot safer because the risk could be managed and

controlled accordingly. As the reservoir drained it

revealed a body chained to a kitchen sink blocking

the lowest scour valve. The woman whose body

it was had been missing for 20 years and could

now eventually be laid to rest, her husband was

convicted of her murder but would not confess to

where he had hidden her body.

USING ROVS INSHORE

Another challenging case was to isolate a dam

from the wet side of a tunnel, 30m deep, 66m

long and 5m wide. The original scheme was to

carry out the work without divers because the

perception is that diving is dangerous, but the

ROV sonar detected a tighter space than the

as built drawings had indicated so we carried

out a tactile divers’ survey and amended our

plans accordingly. A good case where the ROV

complemented the diver.

Initially the direction on this job was that it

was far too dangerous to dive in the tunnel,

but with proper planning it was possible to

demonstrate that it could be made safe;

ultimately, we changed the design of our

isolating methods which proved very successful

and the downstream valves were changed

within a couple of days. If we had used the

original design, it simply would not have worked

so, again, this is a great example of having ROVs

as a tool for the dive team.

OVERCOMING

POOR VISIBILITY

The visibility on

most inshore tasks

is usually poor at

best. Most, if not

all of you will have

fumbled about in

murky water and

I think it makes for

better divers; if they

can complete a

task without having

seen it, divers will be

even better when

they can see what

they’re doing.

With visibility

being what it is we

are carrying out

trails on a Tritech

diver mounted sonar to take the diver to the job.

The diver has a monocle attached to the outside

of the helmet the same way you would mount

a CCTV camera and light; the sonar picture is

what the diver sees.

This cutting edge technology works very well

in poor visibility. How robust and diver friendly

it might be remains to be seen, but initial trials

have proved successful.

The next level of multibeam sonar

As part of a demonstration, we carried out a

trial whilst undertaking a night dive on an intake

tower, it had to be carried out at night due to

water supplies being so critical in the day with

not enough storage to allow for uninterrupted

supply to the end user.

We had been looking into multibeam

technology for a while, but COVID delayed

its progress, there are several different

manufacturers making this type of equipment

but, on this trial, it was so successful we placed

an order the next day.

“…the ROV sonar detected a tighter space than the as built

drawings had indicated so we carried out a tactile divers’

survey and amended our plans accordingly…”


This is what we saw from the small boat whilst

circling the intake tower, the sonar, combined

with a laser scanner, stitches the image together

to give a 3D point cloud image. It really is like

removing the plug from a bath. The alarming

problem we identified was that we were about

to dive on the intake tower to repair one of the

flap valves right next to what appeared to be

another larger intake of which nobody, neither

we nor the customer carrying out the isolations,

had been aware.

Before we dived the ROV carried out a detailed

survey to ensure there was no draw and it

was safe to dive. That survey showed that the

previously unknown intake was probably an old

intake that had been filled in after construction

of the tower, if it had been a live intake, that

could have had very different ramifications.

Nobody knew the state or condition, so checking

it with the ROV was essential. Images using the

technology are on a point cloud so users can

look at whichever angle they prefer.

AN ROV WITH MULTIBEAM SHOWS THE

SAFE WAY

The existing water company had to carry out

some isolations on the wet side of a dam and

there was an alleged diver’s hatch that we

previously failed to find with an ROV. With poor

visibility, nobody knew what the hatch looked like,

so we needed a more accurate way of finding

it. The multibeam sonar revealed exactly where

it was. We had a GPS fix, dropped a shot line

attached to a buoy and the divers did the rest.

On this image you can see the entrance to

the tunnel which was not accessible, so the

diver dropped through the hatch and carried

out a tactile survey of what was required, all

completed in a single 25-minute dive.

INSTALLING PIPES IN POOR VISIBILITY

This job was finished off earlier this year where

we had to install a series of pipes (2 x 450 1 x

280 1 x 150mm) over 80m long supported on

concrete blocks within a reservoir to a level of

“…the sonar, combined with a laser scanner, stitches the

image together to give a 3D point cloud image. It really is

like removing the plug from a bath…”


+/- 50mm, the customer didn’t think we would

achieve it as visibility was so poor. The divers dug

the trench by hand with airlifts and hydraulic

pumps, the levels along the 80-metre section

were to a tolerance of less than 15mm. Like most

jobs, preparation was everything but when you

can use sonar imagery to produce a usable

image it really can show the doubters what can

be achieved.

MEASURING A TUNNEL

This is a point cloud laser survey that has been

meshed to create a fly though, it works on the

same principal as the multibeam sonar. This

was a culvert/tunnel that required measuring

to understand what its maximum capacity

would be under flood conditions. Because the

tunnel was not symmetrical, and the customer

required detailed measurements which, taken

conventionally, would have taken an age, we

opted for the laser survey which was millimeter

perfect and completed in the same timeframe.

FINISHING THE JOB AFTER A

RESEVOIR IS FLOODED

This was another flythrough with a point cloud

3D laser. For this job we had already removed

the pipe from within the tunnel and placed an

isolation to the existing pipework whilst it was

dry. When the reservoir was flooded, we were

able to go back to remove the blanking flange.

The information shown here was very useful

for the diving supervisor and, particularly, the

diver; it formed part of our risk assessment and

method statement and gave them as much

information as they needed.

THE BENEFITS OF EMBRACING

TECHNOLOGY

Technology is becoming more readily available

and less expensive, and really does benefit

everybody, from the diver doing the task, to the

operational planning for getting the job done.

It is also beneficial to give customers detailed

information, something they would have most

likely never seen before. But technology will

never replace the human diver it simply makes

their job easier.


13

15

TO

JUNE

2023 Southampton

United Kingdom

Seawork is open for business – all year

Reserve now for 2023. Keep your full business

profile and capabilities in front of your customers

365 days a year.

Europe’s leading commercial marine

and workboat exhibition

DiveWork at Seawork is a showcase for the

professional diving and subsea industries.

DiveWork consists of a pavilion and a trail,

with a Dive Tank on the Quayside where all

the latest underwater equipment and services

can be demonstrated.

Look for the Diving & Underwater Services,

Hydrography category on Seawork.com

to connect with this industry sector

all year.

Co-located with:

Also returning in 2023

Speed@Seawork

Sea Trials & Conference

For more information visit: seawork.com

contact: +44 1329 825 335 or email: info@seawork.com

#Seawork

Media partners:

MARITIMEJOURNAL

COMMERCIAL MARINE BUSINESS

BOATINGBUSINESS

THE UK LEISURE MARINE BUSINESS

Professional Diver, Winter 2022, Issue 04

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