The expanding workforce reflects not only demand for FJ Marine’s established expertise in underwater propeller repair but also the in-situ wet welding of doubling plates to the hulls of ships that have run aground or have otherwise been damaged below the waterline. New materials such as Barracuda rods as well as improved techniques, procedures and methodologies have resulted in wet welding producing work of a quality not possible only three to five years ago and which satisfies the stringent demands of classification societies.

The latest standard in wet welding technique is also applicable in the treatment of Accelerated Low Water Corrosion (ALWC) damage to steel-built marine structures. FJ Marine is bidding for a large ALWC repair contract at the time of writing and anticipates an increasing workload in remedying this scourge of maritime authorities.

David Keats, who wrote the original UK wet welding qualification, is training the FJ Marine divers using a Specialty Welds programme called Weldcraft-Pro, which attains the new European certificate by updating the universally recognised American Welding Society (AWS) certificate.

In addition to being a provider of diving consultancy and training services, Specialty Welds is perhaps unique in also holding accreditation from Zurich to act on behalf of insurance authorities in examining and certifying underwater wet welds to classification society approvals. David Keats’ trainees today could well find their work coming under his close scrutiny again tomorrow.

MJ Information No: 22516