Underwater Repairs and Diving

At OceanEx, we always value and strive to protect our members’ interests when it matters most. We know that underwater challenges can quickly turn into costly disruptions if not addressed with the right expertise, equipment, and speed. That is why we bring together proven dive services, certified teams, and decades of collective experience so our clients never face these challenges alone.

Our recommended partners are fully certified, rigorously audited, and equipped to respond to complex subsea challenges, from planned maintenance to emergency repair, with rapid mobilization and uncompromising quality, which is trusted by classification societies, OEMs, and leading oil and gas operators worldwide, and offers:

  • IACS Approved Class A Underwater Welding: Groove welding procedures in all positions, tested to topside standards.
  • Extensive Welding Expertise: 60+ qualified wet and dry welding procedures.
  • Full Certification Coverage: Approved across all major IACS members.
  • OEM-Trained Technicians: Expertise with SKF, Wärtsilä, Fincantieri for thrusters, propeller repairs, seals, rudders, and more.
  • Custom Engineered Dry Habitats: For welding, seal exchanges, thruster repairs, and other specialized subsea tasks.
  • Industry Recognition: IMCA audited and approved as a trusted vendor for Shell, Chevron, and other leading oil and gas operators.

Through this combination of certifications, proven procedures, and specialized engineering, we routinely work with Phoenix International, which has consistently provided our clients with dependable subsea solutions that reduce downtime, safeguard assets, and deliver measurable cost savings.

Permanent Underwater Repairs

Phoenix has an American Bureau of Shipping (ABS) approved, Class A wet underwater fillet Welding Procedure Specification for ASTM A 131 and Group II steels of the American Welding Society D1.1 structural welding code. With this procedure, Phoenix can perform permanent underwater weld repairs to classed vessels, including:

  • Eroded rudder weld seams
  • Mechanical repairs to high-lift rudders

Underwater Seal Repairs

Phoenix has expertise in underwater seal repair/replacement using a dry habitat, as per the OEM and IACS procedures. The divers are fully trained and accredited, and routinely provide safe, high-quality underwater bonding of new seal rings, removal or installation of spacer rings, and even complete replacements. The expert technical services include the following seal reapirs:

  • Bow and Stern Thrusters
  • CPP Blade Seals
  • Face Seals
  • Lip Seals
  • Propeller Blade Palm Seals
  • Stabilizers
  • Tunnel and Azimuth Thrusters

Underwater Propeller Repairs

The diving team and technical experts routinely conduct class-approved underwater propeller repairs, which can save significant cost and related delays due to the unavailability of a dry dock, with various repairs carried out even in a loaded condition.

The underwater propeller repairs include:

  • Blade straightening (cold bending)
  • Blade cropping
  • Blade replacement
  • Correction of propeller-induced engine overload
  • Crack repair
  • Damage inspection and measurement
  • Diameter and blade area reduction
  • Fully engineered design modifications
  • Leading-and trailing-edge repair and modifications
  • NDT or Close Visual Inspection (CVI)/evaluation
  • Replacement of Controllable Pitch Propeller (CPP) blades and blade seals
  • Static balancing

Underwater Rudder Repairs

A vessel’s rudder can be prone to damage, erosion, and corrosion, resulting in costly repairs. The diving team and technical experts routinely conduct class-approved underwater rudder and stabilizer repairs, which include:

  • Rudder blade installation, repair, and removal
  • Rudder clearance measurements
  • Rudder stock installation, repair, or removal
  • Permanent weld repairs for corrosion or erosion damage
  • Shaft wrap
  • Underwater crack and damage inspection and repair
  • Emptying flooded rudders
  • Drain plug replacement

Additional Underwater Expertise

The skilled and experienced dive teams also provide the following specialized dive support and underwater services:

  • Scrubber cleaning and repairs
  • Propeller polishing
  • Transducer (Echo sounder, Doppler log) installation and repairs
  • Aperture blanking and valve repairs
  • Underwater Inspection in lieu of Diving (UWILD) and in-water surveys
  • Invasive Alien Species detection and removal
  • Underwater video inspection, damage documentation, hull coating performance
  • Underwater welding and repairs
  • Dry insert via cofferdam
  • Cathodic protection and replacement
  • Clad welding of the cavitation-affected area
  • NDT Level II and III, MPI
  • Ultrasonic thickness gauging
  • Hull cleaning (if the regulations permit)

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