Within the maritime sector, maintenance is crucial. From international ports and important onshore infrastructure to the vessels that deliver goods from one place to another, upkeep is key. In particular, ship engineers and marine experts alike often emphasise the importance of regular maintenance for vessels and ships operating within the industry, as well as inspections and repairs. These steps are vital for ensuring fuel and energy efficiency, preventing damage and boosting the operational productivity of the sector’s oceangoing vessels.
While some of these routine maintenance procedures can be completed by seafarers themselves, some inspections, particularly those carried out below the waterline, are better left to the professionals. When stopping at a dry dock is impractical, commercial divers are often employed by businesses, operators and owners operating within the maritime sector to conduct underwater hull inspections and repairs while their ships are still afloat.
So what are underwater marine services? And what are the benefits for the sector as a whole?
What are underwater marine services?
As the name suggests, underwater marine services are services provided within the maritime sector that are carried out below the waterline. As a result, underwater marine services allow owners/operators to carry out repairs and routine inspections as well as maintenance and any necessary engineering with minimal disruption and downtime.
Underwater marine services are especially useful when dry docking, which is often costly and time-consuming, isn’t an option. Underwater marine services allow owners/operators to keep a vessel in service longer. By removing organisms such as plants, algae or small animals from unwanted places on the ship, the vessel can also function more efficiently.
The list of vessel components that require regular maintenance, cleaning and repair is extensive. As a result, the maintenance of a vessel can range from small tasks to more complex undertakings. Common services include…
- Surveys and inspections – Underwater marine services can be used for surveying and inspecting a vessel below the water line. Completing surveys with divers, while on location, can save the owner/operator and their clients both money and time by reducing operational disruptions and reducing or even eliminating the need for dry-docking entirely.
- Hull cleaning – Once marine fouling starts to build up on the hull of a vessel, it is near impossible to pinpoint. As a result, it is vital a hull is regularly cleaned to remove slime build-up rather than when heavy growth, such as barnacles and mussels starts to build up. Failing to do so can cause turbulence, cavitation and noise pollution, affecting the performance of vessel sonars and speed logs as well as other sensors mounted on the hull of a vessel.
- Propeller polishing – The aim of polishing a propeller is to reduce the surface roughness caused by the build-up of marine fouling, which occurs when organisms such as mussels or seaweed attach to vessels. A smooth propeller surface prevents marine organisms from attaching and as a result, can enhance the efficiency of the propeller and further optimise the operational performance of a vessel.
- Underwater engineering – As the name suggests, underwater engineering deals with repairs and more complex maintenance on a vessel. It’s a crucial underwater marine service that plays a vital role in managing the structural integrity of a ship.
So what are the benefits of underwater marine services?
Safer
Underwater examinations are done primarily for the purpose of ensuring a vessel is safe to use. A sizable piece of the ship’s hull is below the water’s surface and exposed to the elements, meaning the structural integrity of the ship may be compromised by the emergence of fractures, dents, corrosion and leaks.
A hull that requires maintenance and repairs is also more likely to experience inefficiencies as well as collect debris and other residual particles on the hull. As a result, it’s essential to check a vessel regularly for any potential damage. This means repairs can be made quickly with minimal downtime.
Sustainable
A broken or dirty hull can discharge marine pollutants and corrosive particles that can contaminate the ocean and harm marine habitats. As a result, a dirty or damaged vessel can ultimately impact water quality, sea life and even seafood stocks.
As the maritime sector bear responsibility for protecting the oceans and maintaining the cleanliness of our coastlines, underwater marine services are crucial in ocean waste management. Routine inspections should be carried out for the purpose of preventing marine life from being exposed to harmful chemicals and fuel spills.
Final thoughts
So what are underwater marine services? And what are the benefits for the sector as a whole?
Within the maritime sector, maintenance is an essential component of the industry’s day-to-day operations. From ports and onshore infrastructure to the ships and vessels that transport our goods, upkeep is key. As a result, ship engineers and marine experts alike often emphasise the importance of maintenance for ships operating within the industry, as well as regular inspections and repairs. These services are crucial in ensuring fuel and energy efficiency within the sector as well as preventing damage and boosting the productivity of the industry’s oceangoing ships and vessels.
While some maintenance tasks can be carried out by seafarers themselves, other more complex tasks, especially those performed below the waterline, are best left to the experts. Commercial divers are frequently hired by companies, operators, and owners working in the marine industry to do underwater hull inspections and repairs while their ships are still afloat. When drydocking isn’t an option, these specialist underwater marine services allow owners/operators to carry out routine inspections, maintenance, engineering and repairs with minimal downtime.
Comments