SGS Wet Welding Repairs Approved by DNV GL

DNV GL and Subsea Global Solutions LLC (SGS) say that they have completed an extensive joint research and development program, that will allow permanent repairs to be carried out by underwater wet welding on certain areas of vessels.

Subsea Global Solutions’ global network of coded welder divers will be available to perform these permanent repairs on a case by case basis utilizing this procedure in suitable locations throughout the world in accordance with the approvals given by DNV GL.

Underwater wet welding
Over the last two and a half years, Subsea Global Solutions welded in excess of 80 groove weld test plates underwater at depth in their training facilities in Miami, Florida, Long Beach, California and Terneuzen, the Netherlands. The non-destructive and mechanical testing of the plates was performed at the DNV GL lab in Hamburg, Germany. All data collected was shared between SGS and DNV GL during this procedure development program.

At the End of April 2014, test plates were welded in the training tank in Miami Florida, with a DNV GL welding engineer in attendance. The non-destructive and destructive testing was again performed at the DNV GL lab in Hamburg. Welding of the plates as well as non-destructive and destructive testing was performed in accordance with AWS D3.6M:2010 Class A. The results of the non-destructive and destructive testing were very positive with all welded test plates exhibiting metallurgical properties equivalent to permanent weld repairs performed “top-side” dry.

DNV GL adds that it is pleased to announce that during the SMM in Hamburg, Subsea Global Solutions representatives Rick Shilling (Executive Vice President), Kevin Peters (Vice President) and Uwe Aschemeier (Sr. Welding Engineer) will receive the certificate from Dr. Robert Surma, (Head of Ship Systems & Components, DNV GL) on Tuesday, September 9, 2014 at 16:00 at the DNV GL booth (No. 207 in Hall B4.GF (ground floor), to celebrate this achievement in underwater ship repair and maintenance.


Subsea Global Solutions (SGS) consists of underwater ship repair specialists Miami Diver LLC, Parker Diving Service LLC and Trident BV.  With a dedicated staff of over 100 diver / technicians and welder divers globally, SGS has revolutionized the methods of repair for ship shell plates and equipment underwater.