Offshore technology for inshore challenges
Inshore diving from a new perspective with technologies developed in offshore work adding real benefits for inshore and inland contracts. Words: Paul Edwards, EDS
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or decades, the best resourced commercial diving sector has been around offshore oil and gas, a now life limited sector. But there are many developments in equipment, methods and working practices from offshore that the inshore sector can usefully incorporate to make our work easier and better. In this article, we’ll look at a few that have already proved their worth in the onshore sector.
thirty years ago when these were an effective way for disposing of mines. Then, an ROV will have cost hundreds of thousands of pounds (probably more). Since then, the world’s Navies have spent a fortune researching and developing this technology (see below) so we don’t need to. Modern ROVs are a cost-effective tool for any diving company.
INSHORE DIVERS LEVELLING UP
Offshore has, in recent times, enjoyed eye watering budgets which have supported huge technology advances and, if it is to survive, the inshore sector must also take advantage of those developments. As readers will know, there is a growing quest for alternative energy supplies which means that, for inshore Diving Contractors, opportunities abound. Solar, Wind, Hydropower and Nuclear are areas in which the specialist skills of inshore divers can help create a cleaner/greener environment. But we’ll need to educate potential clients in those industries about what we can bring to their programmes.
OFFSHORE TECHNOLOGY UTILISED INSHORE
ROVs won’t ever replace human divers but they can form part of the diver’s toolkit. Often an ROV can make a site safer and get safety critical information faster and more easily than a diver. They should be considered more in our everyday work. Let’s look at few real world examples where the deployment of technology developed for offshore work can add value and safety to inshore and freshwater diving work.
WORKING SMARTER NOT HARDER
I recently saw this old ROV (Remotely Operated Vehicle) used as a garden ornament in a hotel; it reminded me of my time in the Navy more than 20
The first case was a Reservoir which required de-watering. It was a classic example of not knowing what was there before we deployed the ROV. We knew that none of the valves were working, so they were not able to draw the reservoir down, but nobody had any idea why the valves would not work and what, exactly, was there. If a diver had been drawn into a pipe, the consequences could be catastrophic; but an ROV ran less risk. PROFESSIONAL DIVER • WINTER 2022
