Underwater Hull Inspections & Surveys

Know the condition of your vessel below the waterline without lifting it. We inspect, survey and document the hull in the water, so you stay compliant and skip a dry-dock you may not need.

What is an underwater hull inspection?

An underwater hull inspection is an assessment of a vessel’s hull, running gear and fittings carried out by divers while the ship stays afloat. It checks for biofouling, damage and wear, and produces a documented record of condition. Done to class requirements, an in-water survey can stand in for a dry-dock inspection, keeping the vessel compliant with far less downtime.

A dry-dock is an expensive way to find out the hull is fine

Class and flag rules require regular checks below the waterline. The old way of meeting them was to pull the vessel into dry-dock, look, and put it back. That is days out of service and a yard bill, often to confirm the hull is in good order.

An in-water inspection answers the same question without lifting the ship. Divers assess the hull, the running gear and the fittings, and you get a documented condition record. When the survey is run to class requirements it can stand in for the dry-dock inspection, which is where the real saving sits: compliance kept, downtime cut.

How an inspection works

How an Octodive inspection works

Scope

We confirm what the inspection needs to cover, the class or port requirement behind it, and the areas of the hull and running gear in question.

In-Water Assessment

Divers inspect the hull, fittings and running gear, recording condition as they go, with the vessel afloat alongside or at anchorage.

Documentation

The findings are captured, including visual records, so you have evidence of condition for your fleet files, your class society and any port requirement.

Report

You get a clear condition report you can act on, whether that means scheduling a clean, planning a repair, or confirming the vessel is good to go.

What we inspect and survey

Our inspection and survey services

UWILD

Underwater Inspection in Lieu of Dry-Docking — an in-water survey to class requirements that can replace a scheduled dry-dock inspection.

Mooring Inspection

Mooring inspection — underwater assessment of moorings, chains and anchors below the waterline.

Ship Husbandry

Ship husbandry — routine in-water maintenance and inspection to keep a vessel compliant and efficient.

Hull Condition Inspection

Fouling, damage and wear assessment with a documented report.

Biofouling Assessment

Checking growth levels to plan cleaning and meet biosecurity expectations.

Inspection and survey questions, answered

What is UWILD?

UWILD stands for Underwater Inspection in Lieu of Dry-Docking. It is a hull survey carried out by divers while the vessel stays afloat, done to class requirements so it can stand in for a scheduled dry-dock inspection. It keeps the vessel compliant while avoiding the cost and downtime of dry-docking.

Can an underwater inspection replace dry-docking?

In many cases, yes. Where class rules allow, an in-water survey done to the right standard meets the inspection requirement without lifting the vessel. Dry-docking is still needed for major structural repair or a full re-coat, but routine condition surveys can often be done in the water.

What does an underwater hull inspection cover?

It covers the hull, running gear and fittings below the waterline, checking for biofouling, damage and wear. The inspection produces a documented condition record, usually including visual evidence, that you can use for class, port requirements and maintenance planning.

Do you provide a report?

Yes. Every inspection produces a documented condition report, including visual records of what was found. The report gives you evidence for your class society and port requirements, and a clear basis for deciding on cleaning, repair or sign-off.

We inspect and survey commercial vessels at anchorage and alongside across South African waters, from routine condition checks to surveys planned around a class requirement. Each job is scoped to the requirement behind it and documented so the record holds up where it needs to. Backed by over 30 years of marine civil experience and run on site by CEO Rob Bower and GM Andre Schoeman.