Diving Services
Here to assist you 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
Brixham Ship Agency Services (BSAS) arranges professional commercial diving services within Torbay, providing vessel operators with a practical and reliable solution for underwater inspection, maintenance, and minor repair requirements.
Torbay’s naturally sheltered waters make it an ideal location for diving operations, particularly when offshore conditions elsewhere in the English Channel or Lyme Bay are unsuitable. This sheltered environment allows essential underwater work to be carried out safely and efficiently, often without the need for port entry or significant deviation from a vessel’s planned voyage.
Scope of Diving Operations
Working with experienced, fully approved local commercial diving contractors, BSAS coordinates a wide range of underwater services, including:
- Hull and underwater shell plating inspections, including visual condition checks
- Propeller, rudder, and thruster inspections, supporting fault diagnosis or class requirements
- Sea chest, intake, and overboard inspections, particularly where blockages or restricted flow are suspected
- Minor underwater maintenance and remedial works, subject to suitability and conditions
- Pre-purchase, condition, and class-related inspections, supporting commercial or technical assessments
- Damage assessments following contact, grounding, or heavy weather, providing rapid condition reporting
All diving operations are planned and executed in line with applicable health and safety legislation, port authority requirements, and industry best practice.
Operational Planning & Coordination
BSAS manages the full coordination of diving operations, ensuring clear communication and effective planning between all parties involved. Our role includes:
- Liaison with approved diving contractors
- Coordination with harbour and pilotage authorities
- Selection of suitable anchorages and working locations
- Planning around weather, tide, visibility, and vessel draft
- Coordination of launch or service vessels where required
- Ongoing communication with vessel masters, operators, and technical managers
By integrating diving services into our wider agency role, BSAS helps minimise downtime and ensures underwater works are completed with minimal disruption to vessel operations.
Safety, Compliance & Risk Management
Safety is central to all diving services arranged by BSAS. We work only with contractors who meet required certification, insurance, and regulatory standards, and ensure that:
- Risk assessments and method statements are reviewed
- All required permissions and notifications are in place
- Operations are conducted within agreed safety parameters
- Vessel masters are fully briefed prior to commencement
Our local knowledge enables us to advise on the suitability of conditions and timing, helping to avoid unnecessary delays or aborted operations.
Advantages of Diving Operations in Torbay
Torbay offers several key advantages for vessel diving services:
- Sheltered waters providing improved working conditions
- Reduced exposure to swell compared with open-sea locations
- Ability to remain at anchor rather than entering port
- Efficient coordination with launch, pilotage, and agency services
These factors make Torbay a preferred location for both planned and reactive diving requirements.
Short-Notice & Reactive Support
Where contractor availability and conditions allow, BSAS can assist with short-notice or urgent diving requirements, such as damage inspections or pre-departure checks. Our established local relationships enable a responsive and practical approach to time-critical requests.
Integrated Offshore Support
Diving operations can be coordinated alongside:
- Crew changes and personnel transfers
- Pilot embarkation or disembarkation
- Stores and provisions delivery
This integrated approach reduces overall operational impact and simplifies coordination for vessel operators.
For further information or to discuss diving requirements for your vessel, please contact Brixham Ship Agency Services. Our operations team is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, and ready to assist.
Enquire today
To discuss your requirements or arrange our services, please contact us directly. Our operations team is available 24/7 to assist you with your needs.