Capability profile
Inland Shipping Support
Support for barges, terminals and inland fleets: damage assessment, propulsion works and clearance of obstructions.
- Operating companies
- 3
- Industries
- 3
- Work type
- Planned & urgent
- Coverage
- European operations
Emergency response · 24/7
Urgent inland shipping scopes are handled by the group emergency desk. Call directly — mobilisation depends on incident, location and available resources.
01Service Definition
What This Discipline Covers
Inland shipping support is short-notice diving work along the Benelux waterway network. Typical requests come after contact with a lock or bank, a fouled propeller, or a suspected leak, where an operator needs an answer the same day to decide whether the vessel can continue.
- Operating Marker
- Lock & canal access
- Operating Marker
- Fast mobilisation
02Client Situations
Typical Situations We Are Called For
These are the operational realities that usually trigger this scope.
Downtime directly affects the operator's schedule
Current and passing traffic restrict diving windows
Damage is often not visible from above water
Insurers require documentation before repair decisions
03Scope Of Work
Capabilities And Representative Scopes
Capabilities
- Same-day damage assessment where available
- Propeller, rudder and thruster clearance
- Temporary sealing and leak investigation
- Inspection of mooring structures and terminal jetties
Representative Scopes
- Underwater inspection after contact or grounding
- Removal of wire, rope or debris from propulsion
- Terminal jetty and fender inspection
Reporting Deliverables
- Damage assessment report with video
- Clearance confirmation
- Documentation for insurers and surveyors
04Operational Preparation
How A Scope Is Prepared And Executed
01
Call
Location, vessel type and symptoms recorded.
02
Assessment
Diving team attends and inspects with video.
03
Decision
Findings discussed with operator, insurer or surveyor.
04
Works
Clearance or temporary repair executed where possible.
Written Method Statement
Video Documentation
Supervised Diving
Operational Windows
05Equipment And Safety
Technology And Safety Considerations
Equipment And Technology
- Mobile diving units for waterway access
- Cutting and clearance tooling
- Video documentation equipment
Safety Considerations
- Waterway authority notification and traffic coordination
- Current and visibility assessed before entry
- Supervised diving operations only
Industries Served
- Inland Shipping
- Insurance, Legal & Salvage
- Ports & Terminals
Equipment and technology entries describe capability, not exclusive ownership. Depth limits, tolerances, response times and classification approvals are confirmed per project and are not published as general guarantees.
06Regional delivery
Operating companies offering this capability
Belgium / Netherlands
Benelux Diving
Underwater expertise for inland waterways and terminals
Belgium
Antwerp Underwater Salvage
Underwater expertise for casualty response in the Benelux
Belgium
Antwerp Underwater Solutions
Underwater expertise for the Port of Antwerp and the Scheldt
07Projects
Related scopes
Shipping
Barge Propulsion Clearance And Damage Assessment
Clearance of fouled propulsion and assessment of contact damage so the operator could decide on continuation.
Salvage
Obstruction Clearance In A Lock Chamber
Location and removal of an obstruction preventing normal lock operation, executed with the waterway authority.
08FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
- How quickly can a team attend?
- Response times depend on location, traffic and team availability and are confirmed when you call. We do not publish a guaranteed response time.
- Can a fouled propeller be cleared without dry-docking?
- In most cases yes. Ropes, nets and debris are cut free in the water and the propeller and shaft seal are checked for damage afterwards.
- Can you inspect after contact with a lock or bank?
- Yes. A damage inspection records the extent of the deformation or leak so the skipper and owner can decide whether the voyage may continue.
- Where along the waterway network do you operate?
- Teams work throughout the Benelux waterway network from our Antwerp and Netherlands bases, and further afield on request.
- Do you need permission from the waterway authority?
- For work in a lock, fairway or at a public quay, notification or permission is arranged before the dive; we advise on what is required.
Contact
Discuss a inland shipping scope
Send us the structure, vessel or incident and we will confirm the right operating company, method and working window.
Emergency response · 24/7 desk
Vessel incidents, obstructions, damage and urgent underwater repair. Mobilisation depends on incident, location and resources — we do not publish a guaranteed response time.
+32 472 67 44 21Emergency procedure