Mooring Inspection

Moorings fail out of sight, on the parts no one can see from the deck. We inspect the chains, anchors and fittings below the waterline and tell you what condition they are really in.

What is a mooring inspection?

A mooring inspection is an underwater check of the parts that hold a vessel or structure in place, including chains, anchors, shackles and connecting fittings. Divers assess wear, corrosion and damage on the components below the waterline, where most mooring failures start. The inspection produces a documented condition record so problems are caught before a mooring lets go.

Why moorings need inspecting

A mooring fails where you cannot see it

The part of a mooring you can see from the deck is rarely the part that fails. Wear, corrosion and fatigue build up on the chain, the shackles and the ground tackle below the waterline, out of sight, until a link or a connection gives way. By then it is an incident, not a maintenance item.

An underwater inspection catches it earlier. Divers go down and assess the actual condition of the chains, anchors and fittings, not what they should be after so many years, but what they are now. You get a documented record you can act on, and a clear picture of what is safe to keep using and what needs replacing.

How an Octodive mooring inspection works

Scope

We confirm the mooring layout, what needs inspecting, and the reason behind it, whether that is routine maintenance, a concern, or a scheduled check.

Underwater Assessment

Divers inspect the chains, anchors, shackles and fittings below the waterline, recording the condition of each as they go.

Documentation

Findings are captured with visual records, so you have evidence of condition rather than an assumption based on age.

Report

You receive a condition report that flags wear, corrosion and damage, with a clear basis for deciding what to keep, what to watch, and what to replace.

What a mooring inspection covers

What we inspect

Chains

Wear, elongation, corrosion and damage along the length.

Anchors and Ground Tackle

Condition and holding integrity below the waterline.

Shackles and Connecting Fittings

The join points where failures often start.

Buoys and Surface Connections

Where moorings include them.

Visual Documentation

Recorded evidence of condition for your files.

Mooring inspection questions, answered

What does a mooring inspection check?

It checks the parts of a mooring below the waterline: the chains, anchors, shackles and connecting fittings. Divers assess wear, corrosion and damage on each, because that is where most mooring failures begin, and produce a documented record of the actual condition.

How often should moorings be inspected?

Moorings wear continuously, so most operators inspect on a regular cycle rather than waiting for a problem. The right interval depends on the mooring, the conditions it sits in and how hard it works. Regular inspection catches wear before it becomes a failure.

Why inspect a mooring underwater?

Because the parts that fail are underwater. Chains, shackles and ground tackle corrode and wear out of sight, where a deck check cannot reach them. An underwater inspection assesses the real condition of those components instead of estimating it from age.

Do you provide a report?

Yes. Every mooring inspection produces a documented condition report with visual records of what was found, flagging wear, corrosion and damage. It gives you a clear basis for deciding what is safe to keep using and what needs replacing.

We inspect moorings and ground tackle across South African waters, assessing the condition of chains, anchors and fittings below the waterline and documenting what we find. Each inspection is planned around the operation and turned around with as little disruption as possible. Backed by over 30 years of marine civil experience and run on site by CEO Rob Bower and GM Andre Schoeman.