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Underwater Welding

Underwater Welding

Wet underwater welding to repair and join steel on hulls, pilings, and submerged structures in place, without a haul-out or a dry cofferdam. Gulf Coast and inland rivers.

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Underwater welding joins and repairs steel in place, below the waterline, without a haul-out or a dry cofferdam. Fixt Marine provides wet underwater welding for hulls, pilings, and submerged steel structures across the Gulf Coast.

Wet welding is performed by the diver directly in the water using insulated equipment under topside control. It is well suited to repairs, attachments, and patches where a full haul-out is impractical and where the loads and service conditions suit a wet weld.

What we weld

  • Steel hull patches and doubler plates
  • Piling and structural repairs
  • Brackets, padeyes, and attachments
  • Anode and fixture mounts
  • Temporary and repair welds during salvage and marine construction

When wet welding is the right call

Wet welding is a practical repair method, not a replacement for every dry weld. Some critical or highly loaded welds are better made in a dry habitat or after a haul-out. We are straight about which approach fits the job, the loads, and the inspection requirements.

If the job is to remove or sever steel rather than join it, see our underwater cutting and underwater burning services.

Standards, inspection, and engineering

Structural welds may call for weld procedures, qualified technique, inspection, and acceptance criteria. For load-bearing repairs, the work should be developed or approved by a qualified engineer, and we provide the diving and welding support to carry that out.

Safety and control

Wet welding runs under topside control with a tended diver and a standby diver on site, using insulated equipment and procedures suited to working with electricity in the water.

Who we serve

We provide underwater welding for vessel and barge operators, marine construction and salvage contractors, ports and terminals, and industrial waterfront facilities across the Gulf Coast and inland river systems.

How it works

Our process

Simple, careful, and clear from start to finish.

  1. 01

    Review the repair

    We review the damage, drawings, loads, and any engineering or inspection requirements, and confirm whether a wet weld is the right approach.

  2. 02

    Procedure and preparation

    We set the welding approach and equipment, and plan surface preparation, fit-up, and access for the diver.

  3. 03

    Surface preparation

    The weld area is cleaned of marine growth, corrosion, and coatings so the diver can lay a sound weld.

  4. 04

    Weld in place

    The diver makes the weld underwater under topside control, in passes as required by the repair.

  5. 05

    Inspect and document

    The weld is checked, and inspection and documentation are provided when included in the scope.

Questions

Underwater Welding FAQs

What is underwater (wet) welding?
Wet welding is welding performed by a diver directly in the water, using insulated equipment under topside control, without a dry habitat around the weld.
What can you weld underwater?
Steel hull patches and doubler plates, piling and structural repairs, brackets and padeyes, anode and fixture mounts, and repair welds during salvage and marine construction.
Is a wet weld as strong as a dry weld?
Not always. Fast cooling in water can reduce ductility and toughness compared with a dry weld, so wet welding suits many repairs but not every critical, highly loaded weld. We advise when a dry habitat or haul-out is the better call.
Do you provide weld inspection?
We coordinate inspection and documentation to the requirements of the job, and can support an engineered repair with the diving and welding work.
When do I need an engineer involved?
For load-bearing or structural welds, the repair should be developed or approved by a qualified engineer. We provide the underwater welding and diving support to carry out that design.

Need underwater welding?

Tell us the vessel or structure, the location, and the scope. We will size the crew, the dive plan, and the turnaround, and mobilize when you need us.

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