Underwater Surveys Class Inspections in Kamsar Port

Kamsar Port, on the Rio Nunez in Guinea's Boke region, is one of West Africa's principal bauxite export terminals. Bauxite carriers load here around the clock, and every day a ship spends idle at the berth or in the anchorage area costs the owner money. Underwater surveys and class inspections allow a vessel to complete required hull examinations afloat, without leaving trade for a dry dock. KamsarUnderwater.com delivers these services directly in Kamsar Port, with experienced diver teams, CCTV video and ultrasonic thickness measurement.

What Is an Underwater Survey for Class?

An underwater survey is a structured examination of the ship's immersed hull and appurtenances, carried out by a certified diver while the vessel remains afloat. Class societies can accept it as an alternative to dry-docking for the bottom survey when the ship, the owner and the society's rules allow it. The inspection covers shell plating, bilge keels, sea chests and gratings, rudder, propeller, shaft seals and the draft marks. Findings are recorded as live CCTV video, photographs and written reports that the class surveyor reviews.

UWILD and IACS Requirements

UWILD stands for Underwater Inspection in Lieu of Drydocking. Members of IACS (the International Association of Classification Societies) each apply their own notation and procedure, but the logic is common: a ship's hull must be examined twice in every five-year class cycle, and in suitable cases one of those examinations may be done in the water. Eligibility normally depends on ship age, ship type, coating condition, cathodic protection and the owner's maintenance record. Before mobilising, we ask for the class notation, the last drydock date and the surveyor's attendance plan, so the survey plan matches what the society expects.

Scope of Work

Systematic hull and flat-bottom CCTV video inspection with position referencing along the ship.

Underwater photography of coating breakdown, corrosion, dents, cracks and marine growth.

Thickness measurement with an ultrasonic gauge at the locations specified by class, after local cleaning of the plating.

Propeller, rudder, pintle and shaft seal checks, including visual wear and clearance observations.

Sea chests, gratings, overboard valves and sacrificial anodes.

Draft mark verification, plus anchor and chain visual checks where required.

Why the Kamsar Anchorage Area Matters

Many bauxite carriers wait in the Kamsar anchorage area before berthing, which is often the best window for an in-water survey. Working at anchor keeps the berth free and avoids interfering with loading. The Rio Nunez is a tidal estuary, so water clarity, current and swell change through the day. Our dive supervisors plan around slack water, use CCTV lighting suited to turbid conditions and clean small inspection patches where growth hides the plating. This local planning is what separates a usable class record from an unreadable video.

Reporting and Class Acceptance

Reports are issued in English with time-stamped video, annotated photographs and thickness tables referenced to the ship's plans. Where damage, coating failure or excessive wear is found, we recommend the next step, whether cleaning, repair or further examination. Acceptance of the survey always remains the decision of the class society; our role is to give the surveyor clear, verifiable evidence.

Who Should Book

Ship managers and owners of bauxite carriers, charterers, P&I correspondents and ship agents in Kamsar can use this service whenever a documented hull condition is needed: for class requirements, before or after loading, after grounding or contact damage, or at a change of charter. Contact KamsarUnderwater.com with your ship's name, class and expected arrival to receive a survey plan and quotation.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Q1. How often must a ship's hull be inspected under class rules?

Class rules generally require two bottom inspections in every five-year class cycle, with no more than about 36 months between them. One of these may be an in-water survey (UWILD) if the class society and the ship's condition allow it.

Q2. How accurate is ultrasonic thickness measurement?

Marine ultrasonic gauges typically read to a resolution of 0.1 mm. The gauge is calibrated on a reference block before each dive, and readings are taken at the points and in the grid that the class society specifies.

Q3. How long does a UWILD survey of a bauxite carrier take in Kamsar?

As a planning figure, a Supramax or Panamax bauxite carrier (roughly 190 to 230 m long) needs 1 to 2 working days for a full hull CCTV survey. Poor visibility, heavy growth or extra thickness points can extend this.

Q4. When is the survey report delivered?

A preliminary summary is normally given on the day the survey is completed. The full report, with video, photographs and thickness tables, is typically issued within 24 to 48 hours.

Q5. At what depth does the diver work on a loaded bauxite carrier?

A fully loaded Supramax or Panamax typically floats at a draft of about 12 to 14 m. Hull inspection therefore takes place within roughly 0 to 14 m, well inside the depth range of normal surface-supplied air diving.