Nuclear Diving
Nuclear Diving Services
Nuclear diving is a highly specialized domain within underwater engineering, where safety, precision, and regulatory compliance converge under extreme constraints. Our nuclear-certified dive teams perform critical underwater tasks inside nuclear power plants, spent fuel pools, reactor basins, and associated systems—all while minimizing radiation exposure, containment risks, and operational disruption. We employ dry diving methods, contamination controls, radiological monitoring, and strict ALARA (As Low As Reasonably Achievable) protocols to ensure that even in irradiated environments, work proceeds securely and reliably.
Scope of Services
- Underwater Inspection & Visual Surveys: High-definition video, visual-tactile examination, and photogrammetry of reactor internals, spent fuel bays, transfer canals, pipeworks, and containment surfaces.
- Non-Destructive Testing (NDT) & Integrity Assessment: Ultrasonic thickness testing, dye penetrant and magnetic particle crack detection, and weld inspection to assess material degradation and structural soundness.
- Underwater Welding & Cutting: Certified wet or dry hyperbaric welding and cutting of components (plates, brackets, piping) within restricted zones under radiological constraints.
- Component Repair, Replacement & Modification: Removal, refurbishment, or installation of submerged equipment—valves, pumps, grating, flow control elements, shielding parts—under controlled conditions.
- Decontamination & Cleaning: Mechanical, chemical, or abrasive decontamination of submerged surfaces and structures to reduce residual radioactivity, corrosion, and fouling.
- Leak Detection & Sealing: Detection of fissures, seepage paths or cracked welds, and application of underwater sealing, grouting, or patching solutions compliant with nuclear standards.
- Emergency Response & Outage Support: Rapid mobilization during scheduled outages or unplanned events for repair, stabilization, or inspection tasks—maintaining minimal downtime.
- Radiological Control & Safety Management: Continuous dose monitoring, contamination control (suit isolation, decontamination stations), radiological surveys, and compliance with nuclear safety and QA (10 CFR, NQA-1, etc.).
- Remote & Robotic Assistance: Use of ROVs or remote tooling for preliminary surveys, tool deployment, or robotic operations when diver access is limited or dose exposure must be minimized