Diving support

Business concepts of diving operations have changed significantly. What may once have been considered a record-breaking dive has become a daily routine exercise. Therefore, new technologies are required to reach new depths, and to perform safer and more efficient operations.

The current developments in the exploration and production sector require a new generation of diving support vessels. The key factors to be considered in the development of these vessels are multi-functionality, optimal efficiency and worldwide usability.

Innovative vessels

IHC Merwede delivers custom-built diving support vessels, such as the SEVEN ATLANTIC, as well as the pre-designed modular IHC Supporter® class series with saturation diving equipment.

Diving support vessels operate as a floating dive base. Onboard, divers remain under high pressures in saturation dive chambers. The divers are transported to the work site by means of a diving bell, where they are involved in maintenance, repair and inspection activities.

IHC Merwede diving support vessels are designed to support: professional diving projects; global installation, maintenance and repair work; and other tasks such as subsea and offshore construction.

The SEVEN ATLANTIC has been specifically designed for saturation and air diving support activities up to 350 metres below sea level and features an integrated saturation diving system with a total capacity of 24 divers. The vessel is suitable for worldwide operation and is the highest class DP vessel capable of operations in severe weather conditions. In order to enhance the FMEA safety case, the vessel is designed with full triplication of all DP, propulsion and manoeuvring related systems and subsystems.

Advanced equipment

The integrated saturated diving system on the SEVEN ATLANTIC has a total capacity of 24 people: eight diving teams with three members each. The maximum diving capacity is six people based on two diving bells, for three people each. The diving system is designed for operations in depths of up to 350 metres. The vessel has a total of five moon pools, two for
the dive bells, two for the observation class ROVs, and one for lowering instruments and tools to the seabed.