Re-Classing Existing SAT Diving Systems

In the current low oil cost environment, dive contractors are exploring the possibility of reactivating existing systems rather than building new. In addition to classing ships and platforms, the American Bureau of Shipping (ABS) also classes saturation diving systems. In this paper, the Author describes the basic division of ABS into Engineering and Survey sides, and provides background on the ABS Underwater Rules and the ASME PVHO Standard. The author discusses obtaining a class certificate for a SAT system and then outlines the process for returning a previously classed system to class, and the process for classing an existing unclassed system.

Paper published with permission.