Engineer diver
Encyclopedia
An engineer diver is a professional
who possesses the capacities, skill
s and knowledge
required to plan, manage and successfully execute an underwater
operation concerning engineering
practice.
Examples of business
es that benefit from this professional are civil infrastructures contractors
(above and below water) where inspection
s, and maintenance
projects are carried out periodically. That is the case of underwater inspections of ports, offshore platforms, vessels, bridge
s and dams
.
Other areas concerning engineer divers' expertise are the offshore drilling
and maritime industries. The fact that these activities take place in underwater hazard
ous environment
s requires skills and capabilities afforded by professional commercial diving
training.
An engineer diver is a multidisciplinary engineering professional.
There are also engineer divers in military forces (i.e. United States Army Corps of Engineers
) that have military occupational specialities, but they don't fit in the same category of an Engineer-Diver for civil
purposes (to possess an engineer or engineering related degree and a proper training in commercial diving), despite the fact that they can perform the same type of jobs (if needed). This definition is quoted by OSHA
in its Occupational Safety and Health Standard for Commercial Diving Operations.
Standard Practice Manual No.101, Underwater Investigations, recommends that a licensed professional engineer, who is also a qualified diver, lead underwater inspection teams. The team leader should have five years of experience in conducting underwater structural inspections to reach the necessary training and experience to observe and assess deterioration. When the engineer diver completes the inspection, he should assign a condition-assessment rating, identify necessary repairs and estimate the remaining useful life of the facility.
Although an engineer may be well trained for structural inspections, additional specialized dive training is necessary to ensure a level of comfort and safety in the underwater environment. Underwater inspections are inherently more difficult and hazardous than above-water inspections because of currents, limited visibility and marine growth on the structure. A commercial dive certification provides an engineer with a level of safety and confidence, as well as the necessary dive equipment - an underwater breathing apparatus, communications and, often, a drysuit and diving helmet
to protect against contaminated waters and cold climates.
However, the engineer diver also needs specialized training with the equipment to operate it safely in many underwater conditions. It is important that commercial engineer divers understand that safety is paramount in their operations. All members of an inspection team must be responsible for the safety of the entire team. In the United States, all inspection diving operations must be compliant with the U.S. Department of Labor
's Occupational Safety and Health Administration regulations. Failure to observe these federally mandated safety regulations, or using recreationally certified divers, can lead to accidents and fatalities that are avoidable. There are also specialized insurance policies required for all waterfront
work, and additional rider
s for underwater inspections. These typically include the Maritime Employer's Liability (the Merchant Marine Act of 1920 alias Jones Act
) and the U.S. Longshoreman and Harbor Workers Compensation Act.
In essence, all disciplines within Engineering (Civil
, Mechanical
, Metallurgical
and Materials Engineers
, etc.) could take advantage of commercial diving, as long as the activity offers additional ways to expand engineering potentials in the underwater environment.
, techniques or technologies
that are currently available or being developed, that otherwise would be inconceivable for a regular engineer, that is not concern with the challenges and particularities of underwater environments. These professionals also can perform on-surface (if necessary); especially in projects that require mixed operations in the surface/underwater zone.
Professional
A professional is a person who is paid to undertake a specialised set of tasks and to complete them for a fee. The traditional professions were doctors, lawyers, clergymen, and commissioned military officers. Today, the term is applied to estate agents, surveyors , environmental scientists,...
who possesses the capacities, skill
Skill
A skill is the learned capacity to carry out pre-determined results often with the minimum outlay of time, energy, or both. Skills can often be divided into domain-general and domain-specific skills...
s and knowledge
Knowledge
Knowledge is a familiarity with someone or something unknown, which can include information, facts, descriptions, or skills acquired through experience or education. It can refer to the theoretical or practical understanding of a subject...
required to plan, manage and successfully execute an underwater
Underwater
Underwater is a term describing the realm below the surface of water where the water exists in a natural feature such as an ocean, sea, lake, pond, or river. Three quarters of the planet Earth is covered by water...
operation concerning engineering
Engineering
Engineering is the discipline, art, skill and profession of acquiring and applying scientific, mathematical, economic, social, and practical knowledge, in order to design and build structures, machines, devices, systems, materials and processes that safely realize improvements to the lives of...
practice.
Examples of business
Business
A business is an organization engaged in the trade of goods, services, or both to consumers. Businesses are predominant in capitalist economies, where most of them are privately owned and administered to earn profit to increase the wealth of their owners. Businesses may also be not-for-profit...
es that benefit from this professional are civil infrastructures contractors
General contractor
A general contractor is responsible for the day-to-day oversight of a construction site, management of vendors and trades, and communication of information to involved parties throughout the course of a building project.-Description:...
(above and below water) where inspection
Inspection
An inspection is, most generally, an organized examination or formal evaluation exercise. In engineering activities inspection involves the measurements, tests, and gauges applied to certain characteristics in regard to an object or activity...
s, and maintenance
Maintenance, Repair and Operations
Maintenance, repair, and operations or maintenance, repair, and overhaul involves fixing any sort of mechanical or electrical device should it become out of order or broken...
projects are carried out periodically. That is the case of underwater inspections of ports, offshore platforms, vessels, bridge
Bridge
A bridge is a structure built to span physical obstacles such as a body of water, valley, or road, for the purpose of providing passage over the obstacle...
s and dams
DAMS
Driot-Arnoux Motorsport is a racing team from France, involved in many areas of motorsports. DAMS was founded in 1988 by Jean-Paul Driot and former Formula One driver René Arnoux. It is headquartered near Le Mans, only 2 km from the Bugatti Circuit.- History :The year after its foundation,...
.
Other areas concerning engineer divers' expertise are the offshore drilling
Offshore drilling
Offshore drilling refers to a mechanical process where a wellbore is drilled through the seabed. It is typically carried out in order to explore for and subsequently produce hydrocarbons which lie in rock formations beneath the seabed...
and maritime industries. The fact that these activities take place in underwater hazard
Hazard
A hazard is a situation that poses a level of threat to life, health, property, or environment. Most hazards are dormant or potential, with only a theoretical risk of harm; however, once a hazard becomes "active", it can create an emergency situation. A hazard does not exist when it is not...
ous environment
Environment (biophysical)
The biophysical environment is the combined modeling of the physical environment and the biological life forms within the environment, and includes all variables, parameters as well as conditions and modes inside the Earth's biosphere. The biophysical environment can be divided into two categories:...
s requires skills and capabilities afforded by professional commercial diving
Commercial Diving
Professional diving is a type of diving where the divers are paid for their work. There are several branches of professional diving, the most well known of which is probably commercial diving...
training.
An engineer diver is a multidisciplinary engineering professional.
Definition
- "An engineer diver is a Professional EngineerProfessional EngineerRegulation of the engineering profession is established by various jurisdictions of the world to protect the safety, well-being and other interests of the general public, and to define the licensure process through which an engineer becomes authorized to provide professional services to the...
(PEProfessional EngineerRegulation of the engineering profession is established by various jurisdictions of the world to protect the safety, well-being and other interests of the general public, and to define the licensure process through which an engineer becomes authorized to provide professional services to the...
), or a professional in an engineeringEngineeringEngineering is the discipline, art, skill and profession of acquiring and applying scientific, mathematical, economic, social, and practical knowledge, in order to design and build structures, machines, devices, systems, materials and processes that safely realize improvements to the lives of...
related field, with proper trainingTrainingThe term training refers to the acquisition of knowledge, skills, and competencies as a result of the teaching of vocational or practical skills and knowledge that relate to specific useful competencies. It forms the core of apprenticeships and provides the backbone of content at institutes of...
in Professional Commercial Diving, allowing engineers to perform their work underwater safely".
There are also engineer divers in military forces (i.e. United States Army Corps of Engineers
United States Army Corps of Engineers
The United States Army Corps of Engineers is a federal agency and a major Army command made up of some 38,000 civilian and military personnel, making it the world's largest public engineering, design and construction management agency...
) that have military occupational specialities, but they don't fit in the same category of an Engineer-Diver for civil
Civilian
A civilian under international humanitarian law is a person who is not a member of his or her country's armed forces or other militia. Civilians are distinct from combatants. They are afforded a degree of legal protection from the effects of war and military occupation...
purposes (to possess an engineer or engineering related degree and a proper training in commercial diving), despite the fact that they can perform the same type of jobs (if needed). This definition is quoted by OSHA
Occupational Safety and Health Administration
The United States Occupational Safety and Health Administration is an agency of the United States Department of Labor. It was created by Congress of the United States under the Occupational Safety and Health Act, signed by President Richard M. Nixon, on December 29, 1970...
in its Occupational Safety and Health Standard for Commercial Diving Operations.
Dive training
The American Society of Civil EngineersAmerican Society of Civil Engineers
The American Society of Civil Engineers is a professional body founded in 1852 to represent members of the civil engineering profession worldwide. It is the oldest national engineering society in the United States. ASCE's vision is to have engineers positioned as global leaders who strive toward...
Standard Practice Manual No.101, Underwater Investigations, recommends that a licensed professional engineer, who is also a qualified diver, lead underwater inspection teams. The team leader should have five years of experience in conducting underwater structural inspections to reach the necessary training and experience to observe and assess deterioration. When the engineer diver completes the inspection, he should assign a condition-assessment rating, identify necessary repairs and estimate the remaining useful life of the facility.
Although an engineer may be well trained for structural inspections, additional specialized dive training is necessary to ensure a level of comfort and safety in the underwater environment. Underwater inspections are inherently more difficult and hazardous than above-water inspections because of currents, limited visibility and marine growth on the structure. A commercial dive certification provides an engineer with a level of safety and confidence, as well as the necessary dive equipment - an underwater breathing apparatus, communications and, often, a drysuit and diving helmet
Diving helmet
Diving helmets are worn mainly by professional divers engaged in surface supplied diving, though many models can be adapted for use with scuba equipment....
to protect against contaminated waters and cold climates.
However, the engineer diver also needs specialized training with the equipment to operate it safely in many underwater conditions. It is important that commercial engineer divers understand that safety is paramount in their operations. All members of an inspection team must be responsible for the safety of the entire team. In the United States, all inspection diving operations must be compliant with the U.S. Department of Labor
United States Department of Labor
The United States Department of Labor is a Cabinet department of the United States government responsible for occupational safety, wage and hour standards, unemployment insurance benefits, re-employment services, and some economic statistics. Many U.S. states also have such departments. The...
's Occupational Safety and Health Administration regulations. Failure to observe these federally mandated safety regulations, or using recreationally certified divers, can lead to accidents and fatalities that are avoidable. There are also specialized insurance policies required for all waterfront
Waterfront
-In music:*Waterfront , a 1980s British pop duo*Waterfront Records, an Australian record label*"Waterfront" , by Simple Minds*Waterfront Blues Festival, in Portland, Oregon-In film and television:*Waterfront , directed by William A...
work, and additional rider
Rider (legislation)
In legislative procedure, a rider is an additional provision added to a bill or other measure under the consideration by a legislature, having little connection with the subject matter of the bill. Riders are usually created as a tactic to pass a controversial provision that would not pass as its...
s for underwater inspections. These typically include the Maritime Employer's Liability (the Merchant Marine Act of 1920 alias Jones Act
Jones Act
The term Jones Act may refer to one of several federal laws in the United States:*The Jones Act was a 1916 statute sponsored by Representative William Atkinson Jones that provided the Philippine Islands a "more autonomous government" to prepare the territory for independence.*The Jones-Shafroth...
) and the U.S. Longshoreman and Harbor Workers Compensation Act.
In essence, all disciplines within Engineering (Civil
Civil engineering
Civil engineering is a professional engineering discipline that deals with the design, construction, and maintenance of the physical and naturally built environment, including works like roads, bridges, canals, dams, and buildings...
, Mechanical
Mechanical engineering
Mechanical engineering is a discipline of engineering that applies the principles of physics and materials science for analysis, design, manufacturing, and maintenance of mechanical systems. It is the branch of engineering that involves the production and usage of heat and mechanical power for the...
, Metallurgical
Metallurgy
Metallurgy is a domain of materials science that studies the physical and chemical behavior of metallic elements, their intermetallic compounds, and their mixtures, which are called alloys. It is also the technology of metals: the way in which science is applied to their practical use...
and Materials Engineers
Materials science
Materials science is an interdisciplinary field applying the properties of matter to various areas of science and engineering. This scientific field investigates the relationship between the structure of materials at atomic or molecular scales and their macroscopic properties. It incorporates...
, etc.) could take advantage of commercial diving, as long as the activity offers additional ways to expand engineering potentials in the underwater environment.
Importance
Engineer divers are valuable because they can find solutions to recurrent problems during underwater activities, and can explore possibilities for implementing new proceduresProcedure (term)
A procedure is a sequence of actions or operations which have to be executed in the same manner in order to always obtain the same result under the same circumstances ....
, techniques or technologies
Technology
Technology is the making, usage, and knowledge of tools, machines, techniques, crafts, systems or methods of organization in order to solve a problem or perform a specific function. It can also refer to the collection of such tools, machinery, and procedures. The word technology comes ;...
that are currently available or being developed, that otherwise would be inconceivable for a regular engineer, that is not concern with the challenges and particularities of underwater environments. These professionals also can perform on-surface (if necessary); especially in projects that require mixed operations in the surface/underwater zone.
See also
- Professional EngineerProfessional EngineerRegulation of the engineering profession is established by various jurisdictions of the world to protect the safety, well-being and other interests of the general public, and to define the licensure process through which an engineer becomes authorized to provide professional services to the...
- Professional diving
- Underwater divingUnderwater divingUnderwater diving is the practice of going underwater, either with breathing apparatus or by breath-holding .Recreational diving is a popular activity...
- InspectionInspectionAn inspection is, most generally, an organized examination or formal evaluation exercise. In engineering activities inspection involves the measurements, tests, and gauges applied to certain characteristics in regard to an object or activity...
- Civil engineeringCivil engineeringCivil engineering is a professional engineering discipline that deals with the design, construction, and maintenance of the physical and naturally built environment, including works like roads, bridges, canals, dams, and buildings...
- Offshore concrete structureOffshore concrete structureOffshore concrete structures have been in use successfully for about 30 years. They serve the same purpose as their steel counterparts in the oil and gas production and storage. The first concrete oil platform has been installed in the North Sea in the Ekofisk field in 1973 by Phillips Petroleum...
- Oil platformOil platformAn oil platform, also referred to as an offshore platform or, somewhat incorrectly, oil rig, is a lаrge structure with facilities to drill wells, to extract and process oil and natural gas, and to temporarily store product until it can be brought to shore for refining and marketing...
- Saturation divingSaturation divingSaturation diving is a diving technique that allows divers to reduce the risk of decompression sickness when they work at great depth for long periods of time....
External links
- ADCI Engineering Diving Committee
- Association of Diving Contractors International
- OSHA Occupational Safety and Health Standard for Commercial Diving Operations
- Association of Commercial Diving Educators
- Divers Institute of Technology
- American Society of Civil Engineers
- Engineer Divers: A Deadly Lack of Knowledge and Training
- Commercial Engineer Divers: An Underwater Window