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Ships wait at anchor off Nagoya for many reasons: berth congestion, cargo timing, owners' orders. That waiting time is often the best moment for an in-water survey, as long as it is planned properly.
A ship at anchor is not blocking a berth and is not working cargo, so nobody is pressed for time. The Hull is steady, the engine room can lock the propeller, and the crew has hours to support the divers. A survey in the anchorage area can turn a dead waiting period into a completed class item.
Our team goes out by workboat with the diving gear, compressor and CCTV equipment. We need the agent to arrange launch permission and to tell the master the planned arrival time. A pilot ladder or gangway must be rigged on the lee side, with a safe place on deck for the dive control point.
An open anchorage is more exposed than a berth. Workboat operations are normally restricted above Beaufort 5, which is about 17 to 21 knots of wind, and a tidal current stronger than roughly 1 knot will usually stop a dive. The ship's Draft matters too, since a deeply laden Ship has more area to survey and more current load on the Diver. We check the forecast the day before and agree a backup window with the master.
Please give us the anchor position, the expected waiting time and the master's contact details. The master confirms that the propeller and thrusters are isolated, that the anchor watch is kept, and that the ship will not heave anchor during the dive. The surveyor follows the CCTV feed on deck as in any other in-water survey, and the report format is the same as for a berth job.
When the work is done, the ship can carry on to her berth with the class item completed and the report already on its way to the office. If the survey finds damage, we can often plan a repair for the berth call that follows. Always you can reach us
Diving from a workboat alongside a ship at anchor is not the same as diving at a quay. The workboat moves, the ship may swing with the tide, and the anchor chain is a hazard under the bow. Our supervisor sets the dive zone and keeps divers clear of the chain and the stern. The master keeps the anchor watch and tells us at once if the ship drags or if the weather changes. The dive stops immediately in either case.
A day at anchor is often enough for more than the survey itself. If the Hull inspection shows light fouling or a polished propeller is needed, we can clean the propeller or change a few anodes in the same call. Please tell us in advance what else you would like done, so the team brings the right tools and the plan allows enough time.
Q1. What wind speed stops an anchorage dive?
Workboat operations are normally restricted above Beaufort 5, roughly 17 to 21 knots of wind. The supervisor makes the final call on the day.
Q2. What current limit applies to an anchorage dive?
Surface-supplied dive teams commonly work to a limit of around 1 knot of current. A stronger tidal current usually means waiting for the next slack period.
Q3. How long does an in-water survey at anchor take?
For a bulk carrier of 180 to 200 m, the dive work usually takes 6 to 10 hours, which is one working day, plus travel time by workboat.
Q4. How much notice is needed for an anchorage survey?
We recommend at least 72 hours, because the workboat, launch permission and agent coordination all need time.
