Our qualified and experience ABC DIVING / SEAWORKS divers are capable of:

• Cutting any material (steel, concrete, etc.) of any thickness using Ultrathermic Cutting Rods;
• Cutting any steel up to three times faster than an Ultrathermic Cutting Torch using an Underwater PVL Gas Cutting Torch (20 to 24 meters per hour).

Our skilled and experienced divers are able to DRY-WELD on-site new steel plate inserts whilst the vessel is afloat. Such renewals are to class requirements, are a permanent repair and can save valuable time and money outside the dry-dock.

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Underwater WELDING

• WET WELDING by use of Broco systems
• DRY WELDING with and without coffer-dam.

Flat insert repair showing single sided weld and Insert held in place with ‘dogs’

In order to replace a section of hull plating, the process is the following:

1. The initial action is to fit a coffer-dam over the area of interest and secure in place to provide a water-tight enclosure
2. Then the area of hull plating is cut out from inside and a piece of new plate produced to exactly fit the resultant opening.
3. A Class Approved single side weld procedure is then employed to weld the new plate in place
4. Once welded the requisite NDT is carried out
5. The hull plating re-coated with Epoxy primer and antifouling paint to preserve the area
6. Finally the coffer-dam removed from outboard.

This permanent repair process has successfully been used on numerous occasions in ships suffering collision damages.
This process therefore offers a realistic alternative to docking and provides a permanent repair solution.

Broken Skeg replacement: we made a new design, stronger than the original one. Wet welding with Broco SoftTouch.

Video: here

ABC Diving Ltd and subsidiaries offer afloat repairs to hull plating, fully Class Approved process that allows permanent repair and replacement of damaged areas of hull plating using a single sided welding procedure.
This process can be used for repair of cracks, deformed plate, or even retro-fit of hull mounted equipment.

For welding we use Broco's Ni-Touch nickel welding electrodes allowing underwater wet welding of carbon and high tensile steels (meet the more stringent requirements of the Navy's Naval Ship Technical Manual NSTM 074), or SoftTouch electrodes (meet or exceed AWS D3.6-98 specifications for Type B welds - the American Welding Society's standard for certifying underwater welds - Pass all AWS test requirements, including radiography, bends and hardness).

Broco systems include mild steel, nickel and stainless steel electrodes.
Nickel electrode produces welds with less porosity and allows deeper welding in the overhead position. Ni-Touch™ electrode is appropriate for all position groove and fillet welds.

Sacrificial anodes Underwater Welding

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Underwater CUTTING

30 years ago...
A challenge.

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Underwater GRINDING

Stanley GR 29 Underwater Grinder (2700 rpm @ 10 gpm) and Drill are hydraulic tools easily handled by divers

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ABC Diving Ltd can inspect and replace "In-Water" all sacrificial anodes.

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