Miami Diver News

DNV GL and Subsea Global Solutions LLC (SGS) say that they have completed an extensive joint research and development program, that will allow permanent repairs to be carried out by underwater wet welding on certain areas of vessels. Subsea Global Solutions’ global network of coded welder divers will be available to perform these permanent repairs on a case by case basis utilizing this procedure in suitable locations throughout the world in accordance with the approvals given by DNV GL. Over the last two and a half years, Subsea Global Solutions welded in excess of 80 groove weld test plates underwater at depth in their training facilities in Miami, Florida, Long Beach, California and Terneuzen, the Netherlands.

The Subsea Solutions Alliance between three underwater service companies – Miami Diver LLC, Parker Diving Service and Trident BV – formed one corporate entity, Subsea Global Solutions. The company performs complex underwater ship repair for major ship equipment Manufacturers, commercial marine, cruise and offshore oil and gas vessel operators. Rick Shilling, Chief Operating Officer, for Subsea Global Solutions said “We continue to expand our global presence, inspire a ‘can-do’ culture within our workforce and work in partnership with our clients and our vetted partners globally. We are committed to excellence in innovative underwater service solutions for all types of vessels and floating structures.

Miami Diver has led the development of a unique universal steel habitat to efficiently carry out underwater repairs on almost any ship. In July 1999, a leading cruise ship operator approached Miami Diver Inc. with a damaged lip type stern seal on one of its vessels. The 73,912-gt ship was reporting sea water ingress from the starboard side shaft seal, and the cruise operator was looking for options to prevent an untimely and expensive unscheduled dry-docking. This was a unique situation in the underwater bonding of a lip-type shaft seal had reportedly never been accomplished before. Miami Diver immediately responded and called upon the network companies based in Vancouver, B.C.

With offices in key locations at the world's busiest cruise ports, the Subsea Solutions Alliance can be at the scene of an emergency repair on a moment's notice. If a repair happens to be one that requires more diver technicians than are available at one location, additional personnel are then brought in from the other Alliance members. While the relationship between Miami Diver, All-Sea and Trident spans 15 years a formal alliance was not established until earlier this year. According to Kevin Peters president of Miami Diver, there was no doubt in his mind that the alliance would not have been an immediate success. "Because of this venture, we now have more locations and more trained personnel to serve the cruise industry," Peters said.