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A class survey is coming due, the ship is on her way to Nagoya, and the superintendent has one question: can this be done afloat, or does the vessel have to go into dry dock? Often an underwater survey will do the job, alongside, while cargo operations carry on. Always you can reach us
Nagoya Port is one of the busiest cargo ports in Japan, and the traffic is mixed: car carriers, container ships, tankers and bulk carriers, including bauxite carriers and other dry bulk tonnage. A ship that loses a week in dry dock loses charter income, so owners look for ways to keep the vessel trading. An underwater survey by a qualified Diver team lets the Hull be examined while the ship stays at her berth or in the anchorage area, with no off-hire and no shipyard queue.
Our divers work with full-face masks and surface-supplied air, and every dive is linked to a CCTV camera, so the surveyor on deck sees the same picture as the diver in real time. The usual scope includes:
UWILD means Underwater Inspection in Lieu of Dry-docking. The idea comes from IACS requirements that each class society builds into its own rules. The principle is simple: if the ship is in good condition and the coating is sound, one of the required bottom inspections can be done afloat. Eligibility depends on the age and type of ship and on the class society's approval, and the attending class surveyor always has the final say. ClassNK and ABS both work with this approach, and our team holds ClassNK and ABS certification, so the survey follows the procedures these societies expect.
Most jobs are done alongside, but we also work in the Nagoya anchorage area when a ship is waiting for her berth. We ask for the ship's Draft, class, IMO number, last dry-dock date and any hull plans, then agree the dive window with the agent. On the day the dive supervisor checks current and visibility, and the surveyor follows the CCTV feed on deck. If heavy fouling hides the plating, we clean that area first so the inspection is genuine and the photographs are readable. Strong current can stop a dive, and we would rather tell you early than push the job.
After the dive you receive a written report with timestamped video, photographs of each area, a Thickness Measurement table and the diver's log. It is laid out the way class surveyors expect, so the superintendent can forward it as it is. Where we find damage, such as a dent, a crack or a missing anode, the report gives its position and size, and we can quote the repair.
Send us the ship's name, IMO number, ETA, berth or anchorage position and class society, and we will come back with a dive plan and a price. Owners, managers and masters can contact the NagoyaUnderwater.com team directly.
Q1. What does UWILD mean and when can it replace dry-docking?
UWILD stands for Underwater Inspection in Lieu of Dry-docking. Class rules based on IACS requirements call for two bottom examinations in any five-year period, with no more than 36 months between them. UWILD can stand in for one of those dock examinations on eligible ships, commonly those under 15 years old with a sound coating. The final decision always rests with the class society.
Q2. How long does an underwater hull survey take in Nagoya Port?
For a typical 180 to 200 m bulk carrier, the dive work usually takes 6 to 10 hours, which is normally one working day alongside. The written report with video and photographs is usually ready within 24 hours of the last dive.
Q3. Can the survey be done at the Nagoya anchorage area instead of the berth?
Yes. Surface-supplied dive teams commonly work to a current limit of around 1 knot, so the dive window depends on tide, wind and sea state. If conditions stop the dive, the survey is rescheduled rather than rushed.
Q4. What measurements does the survey report contain?
The report contains timestamped CCTV video, photographs of each inspected area, the diver’s log and a table of ultrasonic Thickness Measurement readings, usually recorded to a resolution of 0.1 mm. Any damage is described with its position on the Hull and its size.
Q5. How much advance notice do you need before the ship arrives?
We recommend at least 72 hours, together with the IMO number, ETA, Draft and class society. For emergencies we respond as fast as diver and equipment availability allow.
