More Underwater Technology Services

Diving systems

Saturation diving systems on board ships and barges, on drilling rigs or as mobile solutions – the classification or certification of saturation diving systems covers the highest level of GL underwater services for chamber systems. GL supports you with the diving system, the ship or place of installation and the interfaces between the individual modules.

Diver pressure chambers as mobile or stationary chamber systems for the support of diving operations are usual day work for our GL underwater experts. Come and see if they fit your solutions.

Diver launch and recovery systems including wet bell, A-frame, winches, supply interfaces, etc. are common equipment in dive operations but have to be well designed and tested for the hard service they are intended for.

Diving simulators

GL has particular experience in the examination and testing of diving simulators for saturation diving. For example, GL has tested and certified the 600m diving simulator plant GUSI at GKSS, Geesthacht in Germany, used for several deep-diving activities. Furthermore, the 200m diving simulator HYDRA 2000 for the German Navy in Kiel, the 100m diving simulator MEDUSA for the Royal Netherlands Navy in Den Helder, as well as the 250m diving simulator HYDRA 2500 for the Hellenic Navy in Athens have all been examined by GL.

Submersibles and submarines

Classification and certification of manned submersibles are based on GL rules and technical standards accepted worldwide. Submersibles include various research, tourist and deep-diving vehicles with diving depths of up to 6,000 m or more. But we also take care of custom-design submersibles for special tasks or for luxury yachts.

Furthermore, military submarines and their systems can be classified and certified according to GL rules for naval subsurface ships. As the first and only classification society, Germanischer Lloyd has also classified naval submarines.

Unmanned Underwater Vehicles, underwater devices and underwater working machines

Unmanned Underwater Vehicles (UUV) are divided into Remotely-Operated Vehicles (ROV), which are tethered, and Autonomous Underwater Vehicles (AUV), which are untethered. Both can be classified or certified according to GL rules.

Underwater devices can be understood to be all equipment installed at or combined with an underwater vehicle to perform special operations or works.

Underwater working machines are equipment that provide working support independent of an underwater vehicle. Considering the expensive operation of underwater working machines in offshore operations, the certification of the functionality under all conditions increases the reliability of the system and the success of the project.

Medical treatment chamber systems

GL has examined and tested world wide a huge number of different types of hyperbaric and hypobaric medical chamber systems according to European Directive 93/42/EC "Medical Devices" or other national and international standards. GL has a number of highly-trained experts for the survey of hyperbaric treatment chambers who have performed more than 1,000 periodical surveys in clinical facilities, hospitals, on board ships, in fire service departments, navies, at diving and mining companies, etc. Furthermore, GL holds the chair for the task force group EN 14931 "Safety requirements and testing methods for multiplace hyperbaric chambers".

Diving equipment and personnel protective equipment

Germanischer Lloyd successfully completed the accreditation procedure to become a notified body for personal protective equipment according to EC Directive 89/686/EEC and can offer its experts´ assessment world-wide (GL identification number 0098). Our experts participate in the elaboration of harmonised product standards and provide you with detailed background information and guideline interpretations. Diving equipment of all designs (autonomous, surface-supplied and rebreathing devices) and other personnel protective products, e.g. life jackets, diving suits and buoyancy compensator jackets, can be certified by GL.

As recognised experts for diving equipment according to the German Deep Drilling Regulation (Tiefbohrverordnung -BVOT), the examination of diving devices and underwater equipment takes place in cooperation with diving companies.

High-altitude chambers

Examination of high-altitude chambers is a special field of chamber technology. The manned operation under hypobaric conditions with pure oxygen needs safe provisions that are well tested and examined periodically.

Air locks for tunnelling works

As the only third party, GL performs not only pressure vessel examination for air locks but also functional and safety testing according to recognised standards like EN 12110 to ensure a safe and reliable manned operation.

Temporary safe refuge

Temporary Safe Refuges (TSR) are a sensible part of the emergency and rescue equipment on drill rigs and need above all other equipment a high level of reliability. GL can help to keep or increase that high level through initial and periodical inspections.

Caissons

Caissons for manned access are normally used for "dry" underwater works in shallow waters. The physics as well as most of the technology is very similar to that found in hyperbaric chambers. However, the mechanics and the operation are very individual, depending on the design of the caisson. With its experienced experts, GL can support you in designing a safe and highly-effective caisson for your purpose.

Contact: Underwater Technology