COMMERCIAL DIVING BEST PRACTICES

&
ITS CHALLENGES
 LTC (RET) TAN ENG SUI RICHARD

• REPUBLIC OF SINGAPORE NAVY – 1977 TO 1991

• COMMANDING OFFICER NAVAL DIVING UNIT

• SAFSA SCUBA DIVING CLUB COMMITTEE MEMBER

• JOINED METALOCK UNDERWATER MAINTENANCE IN END 1991

• STARTED MARITIME UNDERWATER MAINTENANCE & SERVICES PTE

LTD IN 1997

• 27 YEARS COVERING MILITARY, SPORTS & COMMERCIAL DIVING

CONTEXT OF PRESENTATION

• MY PERSONAL VIEWS, OPINIONS & IDEAS

• THE AUDIENCE MAY NOT SHARE THE SAME WITH ME

• MAY NOT BE COMPREHENSIVE

• ARE NOT BE THE POLICIES AND DIRECTIONS OF MOM

• WITHOUT PREJUDICE
TYPES OF DIVING

• MILITARY
• SPORTS/RECREATIONAL
• COMMERCIAL
• RESCUE
• RESEARCH
COMMERCIAL DIVING

• OFFSHORE DIVING

• INSHORE DIVING

• SALVAGE DIVING
COMMERCIAL DIVING BEST PRACTICES

• In Singapore Context
• Confined to Inshore Diving Operations
NAVAL PLANNING METHODOLOGY

• N1 – Manpower

• N2 – Intelligence

• N3 – Operations

• N4 – Logistics

• N5 – Communications &
Safety
BEST PRACTICES
N3 - OPERATIONS
(Plans)
N2 – INTELLIGENCE
(Information)

N4 – LOGISTICS
DIVING JOB (Equipment)

N1 – MANPOWER
(Divers)

N5 – COMMUNICATIONS
& SAFETY
N1 - PERSONNEL

• DIVING SUPERVISOR • Qualifications/Training level

• DIVERS • Proficiency/Experience/
Capability
• SUPPORT PERSONNEL
• Fitness/Medical Health
• Fatigue
• Mental condition
N2 - INTELLIGENCE

• Ship data, drawings, past

records
• Sea State
• Lighting Condition – Day or
Night
• Visibility – Surface/Underwater
• Tidal Stream/Current
• Traffic Density
• Wind
• Depth
• Proximity to
Hazards/Obstructions
• Lightning Risk
• Temperature
• Space – Confine?
N3 - OPERATIONS

• DIVE PLAN & • Method to perform task – SOPs,

Ops memos, manuals, dive-tables
TEAM ORGANIZATION • Organization of team and duties of
each person, eg. Standby diver
• Equipment required
• Safety considerations – Risk
analysis, communications, lifelines

• EMERGENCY RESPONSE • Evacuation procedures

PLAN • Medical First-aid/Resuscitators
available
• CPR procedures

• PRE-DIVE BRIEF &

PREPARATION
N4 - LOGISTICS
• EQUIPMENT NEEDED FOR • Mask (full-face or half-face), fins,
knife, wetsuit (rubber or coveralls),
DIVER TO DO THE TASK
weights, BC, regulator (with
depth/pressure gauge)
• SCUBA or SSBA (K or J valve, KMB,
EXO, AGA, etc)

• EQUIPMENT NEEDED FOR • Diving Support Vessel (speed, size,

TEAM TO DO THE TASK facilities onboard )
• Support Equipment (power packs,
compressors, generators, tools)

• CONDITION OF SUCH • Equipment checks & preparation

EQUIPMENT • Maintenance carried out
• Defects rectified
N5 – COMMUNICATIONS & SAFETY
• NOTIFICATION - AUTHORITIES, • Pre –dive notifications and post-
SHIP & RELEVANT CONTROL dive notifications (email, fax, forms,
(MPA, PSA, MASTER, CE, DUTY verbal) – Approval given?
OFFICER, ENGINE ROOM, SITE
MANAGER, ETC)

• Safety Clearance Forms

• SAFETY REQUIREMENTS
• Flag, signs, placards, notices
• Walkie-Talkie, Handphones, VHF
• Safety Policies & Procedures in
Dive Plan
• Risk Assessment
• Provision of Safety Equipment
(BCs, lifelines, thru’ water comms,
SSBA)
• Emergency/Rescue/Evacuation
Procedures
 CHALLENGES FACING THE
COMMERCIAL DIVING (INSHORE)
INDUSTRY IN SINGAPORE

• ESTIMATE $40M TO $50M INDUSTRY PER YEAR

• SEEN FROM BOTH PERSPECTIVE – DIVING CONTRACTOR

DIVER
CHALLENGES……..
• IMPROVE THE OVERALL SAFETY OF SINGAPORE’S
COMMERCIAL DIVING INDUSTRY (INSHORE)

• Formulate and implement a Code of Practice

• What safety level do we adopt?
• Safety vs Cost of Doing Business – A balance has to be achieved
• Is legislation necessary?
• How to change the mindset of those already in the industry?
• How to police?
• What if someone else breaks the rules? Eg. MPA boats, etc.
• IMPROVE THE OVERALL PROFESSIONALISM & STANDARDS
IN THE INDUSTRY

• What qualifications, standards, training needs are required?

• Who determines?
• What training is necessary?
• How to train?
• Who to train?
• Who can conduct training?
• Where to train?
• Cost of training?
• Formation of an Association?
• LACK OF COMMERCIAL DIVERS TO MEET THE INDUSTRY’S
NEEDS

• Unattractive remuneration
• Long hours
• Physically demanding
• High risks
• Bad publicity
• Locals or foreigners
• Jealousy
• MAINTAINING SINGAPORE’S COMPETITIVENESS IN THE
PROVISION OF INSHORE UNDERWATER SERVICES IN THE
WORLD

• Competition from Middle Eastern Countries

• Re-invent ourselves
• Improve standards
• Improve efficiency
• Use technology
• Cut costs
• Work together
• Work harder
• Overcome difficulties