In-water surveys inspect a ship’s hull for damage, organic buildup, and abnormalities without dry-docking. Divers clean the hull, inspect the paint and steel, and examine the propeller and rudder system, providing photos and videos to the ship’s owners and board of inquiry. This method is faster and less expensive than dry docking.
An in-water survey is the process of inspecting a ship’s hull for damage, organic buildup, or any other abnormalities in lieu of a dry-dock inspection. Commonly performed by divers, in-water surveying can be beneficial for finding and repairing cracks, broken welds, and rivet problems, as well as simply cleaning a boat’s hull before painting. It is normal for a company conducting an in-water survey to take many photos and videos of the ship’s hull. The diver’s comments that are recorded from inside the diving helmet while the inspection is in progress are also used as evidence of the survey results regarding the condition of the helmet.
A ship must be inspected periodically to investigate the condition of the ship’s hull. The damage, the organic life and the state of the paint must be verified through the actual visualization of the state of the hull. This can be accomplished in one of two methods: dry docking, which is costly and time consuming, or an in-water survey, which does not require the ship to be removed from the water.
Periodically, a ship is required to go through a dry dock procedure where the hull is cleaned, inspected and painted. When permitted, the in-water survey allows the ship to be inspected while it is moored at the dock. This process is much faster and less expensive than the dry dock alternative.
During an in-water inspection, a diver will descend to the bottom of the boat’s hull and scrape off any organic matter that has accumulated on the hull. A visual inspection of the hull will be carried out to determine the condition of the paint and steel. Various tests will be carried out and photographs will be taken of the hull. Typically, film and digital photographs will be taken and provided to the ship’s owners, as well as the board of inquiry that oversees the testing.
The ship’s propeller and rudder system will also be examined during the in-water survey, occasionally resulting in propeller polishing. This service allows the propeller to cut more efficiently through the water and create better speed, as well as better fuel consumption. Occasionally, an unmanned robotic diving machine will escort the diver to the bottom of the hull. This is done to provide light for the in-water survey, as well as a method of carrying the necessary tools and supplies for the diver. The diving machine will often also film the diver completing the survey in the water.
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