Underwater salvaging

Salvaging

A salvor team is a group of underwater services people who undertake tasks to rescue property from a sunken ship. They work with different equipment to ensure that they save the vessel and the property in it. There are many categories of salvaging, and they all involve recovering property. The equipment used in the salvage mission includes floating dry docks, cranes, and divers. The divers dive into the water to rummage the seas for anything of use, which cannot be salvaged using the machines. Under the water, some cameras are used to survey, and the operator uses the crane to retrieve the objects. However, the minute items that require handpicking deep-sea divers are deployed to recover them. For example, if there are bodies under the water, the deep sea divers are assigned to retrieve them. Deep-sea divers offer many services.

Types of underwater salvage services

There are many underwater salvage services: harbor salvage, offshore salvage, wreck removal, cargo and equipment salvage, afloat salvage, and clearance salvage. Discussed below are some types of salvaging services.

Afloat salvage

A ship can be damaged in the sea, but it is still afloat; it has not capsized, and recovering it is known as afloat salvaging. The tasks carried out in this type of salvage include stabilizing the cargo, and the ballast tanks are rebalanced. It is unobtrusive, and the load and crew can remain undisrupted while control work such as welding is done.

Harbor salvage

These vessels are under a sheltered area and do not require swift salvaging not unless it is obstructing other vessels. The ships are not exposed to weather elements like those at sea and thus do not get damaged. It is easier to obtain labor and equipment, and the process is faster.

Offshore salvage

This is the most difficult to work on a type of salvage as the ship is sunk in the exposed waters and is vulnerable to currents and waves and unfavorable weather conditions at sea. The time available for salvaging is limited due to other factors that affect the process. The time window requires the team to be set up and ready to start the recovery process since it might take longer to get another chance. High tides impede the operation of offshore salvaging. It is not as hospitable for floating cranes (betongsaging) hence making it the riskiest and challenging salvaging process.

Deep-sea divers are very instrumental in the salvaging mission and they can go under the water and attach wires and chains used to pull the ship. They retrieve materials and other essential objects that cannot be recovered using machines. It is crucial to know the regulations that govern salvaging (kjerneboring) services as this will guide how the process is done, time, the risk to the salvor, and payments. The tools used in salvaging include underwater cutting equipment, diving helmet, hydraulic salvage pump, lifting airbags, and hydraulic winch. It is important to note that only accredited and qualified professionals with proven expertise can undertake the salvaging task.