Underwater Welding

Quick Guide: What is underwater welding and how to get underwater welding jobs! 

What is Underwater Welding?

Underwater welding, a term for methods adapted for subsea welding, for the purpose of repairing damage to ships and port facilities, or carrying out welding work related to extensions and repairs of offshore pipelines, subsea structures, oil deepwater facilities for petroleum extraction. The material is usually steel, alloy and unalloyed, and three techniques which is very different from dry welding, can be distinguished: wet welding, trunk welding and hyperbaric welding or dry underwater welding.

How to become an Underwater Welder?

It should be obvious that you need to have both a welding education and training as a commercial diver, you need a commercial diving school training. There are dive schools that specialise in the underwater welding process and techniques and have their own commercial diving program. There is also the option to join the army and get your diving training there.

Wet Welding by Divers

Wet welding is traditionally performed as manual arc welding by a diver. The welding arc burns in an atmosphere of water vapor, hydrogen and carbon dioxide that it develops at the welding site, and can be more or less stabilized by a conical water shield that is forced out from the area around the electrode holder.

Underwater Welding Jobs

Below is a list of jobs related to underwater welding jobs and vacant positions:

• ROV Supervisors Jobs in Offshore, Australia
  Day to day supervision of the i-Tech resource operating on work site. * When acting as the senior i-Tech representative offshore, maintaining communications with the clients offshore representative and project engineer. * Execution of the i-Tech operations and ensuring its timely completion in accordance with the relevant proposal and ...
• Principal Subsea Pipeline Engineer Jobs in Houston, USA
  * Experienced with one or more Pipeline design engineering activities; * pipeline and flowline mechanical design * line sizing * pipeline coatings * insulation systems * cathodic protection design * span analysis * diver ...
• Saturation Divers Jobs in Offshore, International
  Responsible for ensuring he/she is familiar with the operation and emergency procedures of the welding habitat. Responsibility for the safe execution of the diving work in accordance with the relevant legislation, contract and company diving and project procedures. The Diver shall inform the Diving Supervisor of any medication he/she may be taking. If the work requires operations that ...
• Commercial Manager Jobs in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
  Based in Kuala Lumpur and working across the region with the business development team, the Commercial Manager will manage multiple projects, customers, vendors and contractors simultaneously to secure a positive financial return on each project. Projects will range across commercial size and technical diversity. A combination of engineering knowledge and commercial acumen is necessary as ...
• Diver Jobs in Sulphur, USA
  (1) Descends into water with the aid of a tender, communicates with surface by signal line or telephone. (2) Inspects docks and bottoms of propellers on ships. (3) Repair vessels below water line, replacing missing or leaking rivets with bolts. (4) Caulks leaks in ships or caissons. (5) Guides placement of pilings for structures such ...
• Senior Mechanical Engineer Jobs in Aberdeen, Scotland
  Senior Mechanical discipline Engineer working for the Remote Technology Group (RTG) providing remote/diverless engineering capability in support of internal Subsea7 projects, equipment and operations. The Senior Mechanical Engineer will have technical responsibility for the mechanical engineering content of selected projects undertaken by RTG. This may include design/development of remote underwater systems and ROV launch ...
• Project Controls Engineer Jobs in Reading, UK
  Substantial experience in leading integrated cost/planning operations, performance management and control. Experienced in interfacing project controls systems with SAP or equivalent corporate ERPs. Familiar with operating project controls under various contract strategies Lump Sum, Bills of Quantities, Reimbursable, etc. Multiple stakeholder and change management. Proven ability to challenge and influence others. Hands on experience using industry standard project controls applications ...
• Intervention Engineer Jobs in Sandvika, Norway
  This role will be responsible for mechanical design to develop design solutions for both the permanent part of GE’s diverless connection systems and the ROV / ROT intervention equipment. The mechanical engineer will utilize geometric models and commercial software packages for analysis, design optimization and new product developments. The responsibility will also include cross-functional work ...
• Field Supervisor Jobs in Luanda, Angola
  Instruct and supervise Field Engineers on day-to-day well site work and activities • Provide advice and direction to external customer and third-party well site colleagues as appropriate • Provide resolutions to a diverse scope and range of complex problems at the well site, using data analysis and your broad knowledge of product lines and tools / services • Act as a ...
• Life Support Technician Jobs in Offshore, UK
  Responsible for complying with and carrying out all tasks and duties in accordance with policies and procedures documented in Business Management System (BMS). Conducts all required emergency procedures which ensure safety of divers under their control. Provides a detailed communication link between divers in saturation and surface crew. Runs pre and post dive check lists ...

Underwater Welder Salary

The underwater welding salary varies from $25k all the way up to about $100k and is dependent on where in the world you are diving. Some commercial divers even earn more than that is the work is very risky. The annual salary is about $65k and include compensation for travels and accommodations when not on the diving vessel or oil drilling rigs.

Hyperbaric Underwater Welding

Hyperbaric welding or dry welding takes place in a closed chamber (habitat) with an open bottom, and with a dry environment, where the water is kept out of helium mixed with oxygen, compressed to a pressure corresponding to the water depth. The method is used for splicing pipes and repairing pipes in connection with offshore installations and other work in deep water. The first two welding layers in pipes are usually laid with TIG welding, the rest with a covered electrode.

How deep can you Weld under water?

The water depth (high pressure) is a decisive factor for adapting equipment and subsea technology when high quality is to be achieved, and as a rule, high quality is an absolute requirement. With increasing depth, the arc requires higher voltage to maintain the same current, and becomes unstable without special control equipment. Furthermore, the content of oxygen and carbon in the deposit increases with pressure. As long as covered electrodes are used, the depth is limited to 200–300 m, but quality connections have been achieved for significantly greater depths with TIG welding, and they are primarily limited by the safety requirements imposed on the diver. 

Subsea Welding Companies

• CRC-Evans Pipeline International, Inc.
  CRC-Evans Pipeline International, Inc. in short: manufacture equipment, sell and rent equipment, and subcontract pipeline construction services. CRC-Evans Pipeline International, Inc. builds the most complete line of pipeline ...
• Nelson Stud Welding, Inc.
  Nelson Stud Welding, Inc. in short: manufacturer and distributor of weld stud fasteners and application equipment Nelson® Stud Welding, founded more than 65 years ago, is the leading global manufacturer and ...
• ESAB Welding & Cutting
  ESAB Welding & Cutting in short: The World’s Largest Producer of Welding Consumables and Equipment The World’s Largest Producer of Welding Consumables and Equipment! As a logical step following his invention of ...
• Rana Diving & Marine Contractor
  Rana Diving & Marine Contractor in short: is an underwater marine contractor, following the development of hydrocarbon exploration diving, welding Visit our web site for vacancies, jobs and Rana Diving & Marine ...
• PS Fabricators & Constructors, LLC.
  PS Fabricators & Constructors, LLC. in short: project management, fabrication, welding, and service company that has specialized in construction services in the pipeline PS Fabricators & Constructors, LLC. is a project ...
• Desmi A/S
  Desmi A/S in short: Vertical and horizontal pumps, self-priming and non-self-priming Until April 1, 2003 the officially registered name of the group was A/S De Smithske. However, over the years the ...
• Belmet
  Belmet in short: steel fabricator operating in the general engineering, manufacturing, oil & gas Belmet is a diversified steel fabricator operating in the general engineering, manufacturing, oil & gas, diamond mining, ...
• Speciality Welds Ltd
  Speciality Welds Ltd in short: Welding Consultants/Training Providers and Welding Equipment/Consumables Manufactures Welding consultancy services for marine and engineering industries. Welder training and approval testing (wet/dry). Manufactures of Barracuda, Hammerhead, Swordfish ...
• Nordseetaucher GMBH
  Nordseetaucher GMBH in short: services to the international oil and gas industry for projects in extreme water depths, offshore and on land (very shallow/very deep) With IMPaC Offshore Engineering, provides services ...
• Marine Aluminium a.s
  Marine Aluminium a.s in short: Marine Aluminium AS is one of the world’s leading companies within engineering, design and fabrication of aluminium structures and products for the offshore and ...
• Stoody
  Stoody in short: production of welding wires and electrodes used to combat various types of wear and corrosion Stoody is the world’s leader in the production of welding wires and electrodes ...
• Noremech AB
  Noremech AB in short: Business concept is marketing, manufacturing and assembling of customer-specific subsea mechanical structures The Noremech business concept is marketing, manufacturing and assembling of costumer specific mechanical constructions. We ...