Specialized diving work requires a customized approach

From the construction site to the North Sea

Whenever specialized diving work is required, Aquatech Diving steps in. The projects undertaken by this Frisian company are therefore extremely diverse. They range from underwater concrete work in a construction pit for the new A15 highway to structural work on the nearly 100-year-old sluices of the Afsluitdijk, and from operations at the Maasvlakte to complex underwater industrial projects. This versatility requires specialized knowledge, but above all, the ability to find the right solution for each project.

Aquatech, based in Joure, specializes in the inspection, renovation, maintenance, and new construction of civil engineering structures. Because the company operates in both inland waters and at sea, it operates under two names: Aquatech Diving for inland waters and Aquatech Offshore for open waters and offshore projects. Within Aquatech Diving, Steven Spanhaak leads a team that inspects, maintains, and builds underwater structures on a daily basis. “Our projects are technically challenging and require precision,” he explains. “That’s exactly where our strength lies. No two projects are the same. We assess what’s needed and find a practical and safe solution for it.”

From fiberglass-reinforced plastic to underwater concrete

A good example of this versatility is the work for Porthos at the Maasvlakte. In this project, CO2 from the offshore industry is transported to the Port of Rotterdam and stored in empty gas fields beneath the North Sea. Aquatech was called in to protect the conductors against corrosion. The metal components were first thoroughly cleaned and inspected. Next, divers applied a fiberglass sleeve/cover assembly, which forms a physical barrier between the metal and the surrounding environment. This prevents moisture, salts, and other corrosive substances from coming into direct contact with the metal. Finally, a protective coating was applied to the sleeve.

Afsluitdijk

On the Afsluitdijk, the focus is once again on a completely different type of work. Over the next few years, Rijkswaterstaat will be carrying out major maintenance and reinforcement work on the sluices at Den Oever and Kornwerderzand. Aquatech’s divers are carrying out construction work here, including pouring underwater concrete. They are also involved in installing the closure section of the fish migration channel.

ViA15's Sunken Location

Another major project is ViA15, in which the A15 will be extended to the A12 and sections of both highways will be widened. Near Groessen and Helhoek, the new A15 will be built below ground level. To make this possible, a construction pit was created. Aquatech was brought in to pour underwater concrete and perform various construction tasks. “Those are very different conditions than, say, at a lock or an offshore project,” says Steven. “But it’s precisely that variety that makes our work interesting.”