Capability profile
Maritime Shipping Support
In-water services for seagoing vessels: hull and propeller cleaning, inspection, underwater repair and assistance in port.
- Operating companies
- 4
- Industries
- 3
- Work type
- Planned & urgent
- Coverage
- European operations
Emergency response · 24/7
Urgent maritime 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
Maritime shipping support covers everything we do for seagoing vessels while they remain afloat: in-water surveys, hull and propeller cleaning, blanking and sealing, underwater repair and assistance when a vessel has a problem below the waterline in port or at anchorage.
- Operating Marker
- Planned on the ETA
- Operating Marker
- Class attendance
02Client Situations
Typical Situations We Are Called For
These are the operational realities that usually trigger this scope.
Port calls are short and cargo operations take priority
Class or surveyor attendance has to be arranged in parallel
Findings below the waterline can change the voyage plan
Works must not delay departure
03Scope Of Work
Capabilities And Representative Scopes
Capabilities
- In-water inspection with video for class or surveyor review
- Hull, propeller and thruster cleaning and polishing
- Sea inlet and outlet blanking
- Rope and net removal from propellers and thrusters
- Temporary underwater repair to allow safe continuation
Representative Scopes
- Pre-drydock condition survey
- In-water survey with class attendance
- Propeller polishing during a cargo call
- Damage inspection after contact or grounding
Reporting Deliverables
- In-water survey report with annotated video
- Cleaning and measurement records
- Documentation suitable for class and insurance review
04Operational Preparation
How A Scope Is Prepared And Executed
01
Request
Vessel particulars, position and available window received.
02
Planning
Team, permits and port clearance arranged for the berth or anchorage.
03
Attendance
Divers attend and execute the scope within the agreed window.
04
Reporting
Video and report issued for owner, manager, class or insurer.
Written Method Statement
Video Documentation
Supervised Diving
Operational Windows
05Equipment And Safety
Technology And Safety Considerations
Equipment And Technology
- Diver-held video and still cameras
- Hull and propeller cleaning tooling
- Hydraulic and pneumatic tools for in-water repair
- Workboat and support vessel arranged per port
Safety Considerations
- Works coordinated with the vessel and the port authority
- Machinery isolation and lock-out agreed with the chief engineer
- Diving operations under continuous supervision
Industries Served
- Maritime Shipping
- Ports & Terminals
- Insurance, Legal & Salvage
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
Antwerp Underwater Solutions
Underwater expertise for the Port of Antwerp and the Scheldt
Malta
USG Malta
Underwater expertise for the Central Mediterranean
Netherlands
USG Netherlands
Underwater expertise for Dutch ports and waterways
Belgium / Netherlands
Benelux Diving
Underwater expertise for inland waterways and terminals
08FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
- Do you attend outside office hours?
- Yes. Urgent vessel work is handled through the 24/7 emergency desk.
- Is class approval available for in-water surveys?
- We are certified to carry out works for a number of classification societies; the applicable approval is confirmed per scope and per society.
- Can work be done while the vessel is working cargo?
- Often yes. The working window, exclusion zone and confirmation that propulsion and thrusters stay shut down are agreed with the master and terminal beforehand.
- Does hull cleaning require the vessel to be alongside?
- Cleaning is carried out alongside or at anchorage where conditions, current and local regulations allow it.
- Are underwater cleaning discharges permitted in every port?
- No. Local rules on in-water cleaning and biofouling differ per port, so permissibility is checked before the job is confirmed.
- Can a temporary repair keep a vessel trading?
- Blanking, sealing and temporary patch repairs are used to allow a vessel to continue to the next scheduled docking, subject to class agreement.
- What is needed to request a job?
- Vessel name and IMO number, port and ETA/ETD, the scope required, draught, and any class or owner instruction already issued.
Contact
Discuss a maritime 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