Underwater construction supervisor

Underwater construction supervisor article illustration

Description

Underwater construction supervisors monitor underwater construction projects such as tunnels, canal locks and bridge pillars. They guide and instruct construction commercial divers and make sure they adhere to safety regulations.

Here are some of the duties of an underwater construction supervisor:

  • Monitoring underwater construction projects such as tunnels, canal locks, and bridge pillars
  • Guiding and instructing workers on the construction site and ensuring that all safety protocols are followed
  • Overseeing the movement of all lifting operations on the construction site to ensure the safety and effectiveness of the project
  • Ensuring that jobs are completed on time and within budget, to the standard expected of the company
  • Managing schedules of work and delegating tasks to senior colleagues and their teams, to ensure that each phase of the build is completed as planned.

Other titles

The following job titles also refer to underwater construction supervisor:

canal lock construction supervisor
sub-sea construction supervisor
construction diving supervisor
marine construction supervisor
underwater construction project supervisor
marine construction project supervisor
bridge pillar construction supervisor
sub-sea construction project supervisor
harbour construction supervisor
tunnel construction supervisor

Working conditions

Underwater construction supervisors work in challenging and demanding environments, often remote or offshore. They may spend extended periods away from home, living and working on construction vessels or offshore platforms. The work is physically demanding and may involve exposure to extreme weather conditions, strong currents, and underwater hazards. Safety precautions and adherence to dive protocols and equipment maintenance are critical to ensure the well-being of the construction team. The role may require working long hours, including weekends and holidays, to meet project deadlines or respond to emergencies.

Minimum qualifications

The educational and professional requirements for an underwater construction supervisor may vary depending on the employer and the complexity of the construction projects.

Typically, a bachelor’s degree in civil engineering, marine engineering, or a related field is preferred. Certification as a commercial diver, such as the Association of Diving Contractors (ADC) certification, is necessary to understand diving techniques, safety protocols, and equipment operation. Relevant work experience in underwater construction, marine construction, or a related field is essential to develop the necessary skills and knowledge to supervise underwater construction projects. Strong leadership, communication, and problem-solving skills are necessary to effectively manage and coordinate a construction team. Familiarity with underwater construction equipment, tools, and techniques, as well as knowledge of industry regulations and standards, is crucial for successful project execution.

ISCO skill level

ISCO skill level is defined as a function of the complexity and range of tasks and duties to be performed in an occupation. It is measured on a scale from 1 to 4, with 1 the lowest level and 4 the highest, by considering:

  • the nature of the work performed in an occupation in relation to the characteristic tasks and duties
  • the level of formal education required for competent performance of the tasks and duties involved and
  • the amount of informal on-the-job training and/or previous experience in a related occupation required for competent performance of these tasks and duties.

Underwater construction supervisor is a Skill level 3 occupation.

Underwater construction supervisor career path

Similar occupations

These occupations, although different, require a lot of knowledge and skills similar to underwater construction supervisor.

crane crew supervisor
dredging supervisor
construction scaffolding supervisor
bridge construction supervisor
rail construction supervisor

Long term prospects

These occupations require some skills and knowledge of underwater construction supervisor. They also require other skills and knowledge, but at a higher ISCO skill level, meaning these occupations are accessible from a position of underwater construction supervisor with a significant experience and/or extensive training.

installation engineer
construction general contractor
quantity surveyor
construction manager
property developer

Essential knowledge and skills

Essential knowledge

This knowledge should be acquired through learning to fulfill the role of underwater construction supervisor.

  • Quality assurance procedures: The procedures to inspect a product or system to ensure that it is according to specifications and requirements.
  • Diving operation requirements: The operational plan and the contingency plan for the diving operation, the diving equipment to be used in the diving operation, the diving signals to be used in the diving operation, the in-water decompression procedures to be used in the diving operation, and any emergency procedures that might have to be used in the diving operation.
  • Diving equipment: Equipment used for a dive, including wetsuits and drysuits, helmets, scuba equipment and any umbilical equipment which provides the connection with the surface.
  • Diving vessels systems: The characteristics, functioning and way of working with dynamic positioning systems, construction barges and dive support vessels.

Essential skills and competences

These skills are necessary for the role of underwater construction supervisor.

  • Manage health and safety standards: Oversee all personnel and processes to comply with health, safety and hygiene standards. Communicate and support the alignment of these requirements with the company’s health and safety programmes.
  • Inspect construction sites: Ensure health and safety during the construction project by inspecting the construction site regularly. Identify risks of putting people in danger or of damaging construction equipment.
  • Work in a construction team: Work as part of a team in a construction project. Communicate efficiently, sharing information with team members and reporting to supervisors. Follow instructions and adapt to changes in a flexible manner.
  • Inspect construction supplies: Check construction supplies for damage, moisture, loss or other problems before using the material.
  • Comply with the planned time for the depth of the dive: Ensure that a diver returns from a given depth after the planned time limit has expired.
  • Ensure compliance with construction project deadline: Plan, schedule and monitor the building processes in order to ensure completion of the project by the set deadline.
  • Prevent damage to utility infrastructure: Consult utility companies or plans on the location of any utility infrastructure that may interfere with a project or be damaged by it. Take the necessary steps to avoid damage.
  • Ensure equipment availability: Ensure that the necessary equipment is provided, ready and available for use before procedures start.
  • Secure working area: Secure the operation site fixing boundaries, restricting access, placing signs and taking other measures in order to guarantee public and staff safety.
  • Plan resource allocation: Plan future needs of various resources such as time, money and specific process resources.
  • Follow health and safety procedures in construction: Apply the relevant health and safety procedures in construction in order to prevent accidents, pollution and other risks.
  • Evaluate employees work: Evaluate the need for labour for the work ahead. Evaluate the performance of the team of workers and inform superiors. Encourage and support the employees in learning, teach them techniques and check the application to ensure product quality and labour productivity.
  • Supervise staff: Oversee the selection, training, performance and motivation of staff.
  • Comply with legal requirements for diving operations: Ensure that diving operations comply with legal requirements.
  • Process incoming construction supplies: Receive incoming construction supplies, handle the transaction and enter the supplies into any internal administration system.
  • Ensure health and safety of dive teams: Monitor the safety of the dive teams. Ensure that the operation is carried out from a safe, suitable location as per diving operation manual. When necessary, decide whether it is safe to proceed with the dive.
  • Ensure diving operations conform with plan: Ensure that the dive adheres to the operational plan and the contingency plan.
  • React to events in time-critical environments: Monitor the situation around you and anticipate. Be ready to take quick and appropriate action in case of unexpected events.
  • Use safety equipment in construction: Use elements of protective clothing such as steel-tipped shoes, and gear such as protective goggles, in order to minimise risk of accidents in construction and to mitigate any injury if an accident does occur.
  • Keep records of work progress: Maintain records of the progress of the work including time, defects, malfunctions, etc.
  • Check diving equipment: Check diving equipment for valid certification to ensure its suitability. Ensure that any diving equipment is examined by a competent person before use, at least once on each day on which it is to be used. Ensure that it is adequately tested and repaired.
  • Implement dive plans: Implement dive plans, working with the client, vessel teams and marine superintendents.
  • Interrupt diving operations when necessary: Terminate or interrupt the diving operation if continuing the operation is likely to endanger the health or safety of any person involved.
  • Coordinate construction activities: Coordinate the activities of several construction workers or crews to make sure they do not interfere with each other and to ensure that the works are done in a timely manner. Keep up to date on the progress of the teams and update the schedule if called for.

Optional knowledge and skills

Optional knowledge

This knowledge is sometimes, but not always, required for the role of underwater construction supervisor. However, mastering this knowledge allows you to have more opportunities for career development.

  • Construction product regulation: Regulations on construction products quality standards applied throughout the European Union.
  • Machinery load capacity: The maximum load capacity of the operated piece of machinery, under different circumstances and in different positions and movements. Passive load capacity and active load capacity, which is measure while in motion.
  • Cost management: The process of planning, monitoring and adjusting the expenses and revenues of a business in order to achieve cost efficiency and capability.

Optional skills and competences

These skills and competences are sometimes, but not always, required for the role of underwater construction supervisor. However, mastering these skills and competences allows you to have more opportunities for career development.

  • Inspect offshore constructions: Conduct regular inspections during and after the construction of offshore facilities such as oil platforms to ensure risk minimisation and compliance with regulations.
  • Critique the dive with the dive team: Assess the dive with the dive team upon completion. Instruct the diver(s) so as to improve procedures and routines for future dives.
  • Inspect pipelines: Walk flow lines to identify damage or leaks; use electronic detection equipment and conduct visual inspections.
  • Provide first aid: Administer cardiopulmonary resuscitation or first aid in order to provide help to a sick or injured person until they receive more complete medical treatment.
  • Perform underwater bridge inspection: Wade through a body of water to inspect the piles of a bridge. Put on the appropriate equipment, such as weights, and make sure to have an associate present for safety reasons.
  • Rig loads: Safely attach loads to different types of hooks and attachments, taking into account the weight of the load, the power available to move it, static and dynamic tolerances of all instruments and materials, and the mass distribution of the system. Communicate with the operator verbally or with gestures to ensure the safety and efficiency of the operation. Detach loads.
  • Monitor stock level: Evaluate how much stock is used and determine what should be ordered.
  • Recruit employees: Hire new employees by scoping the job role, advertising, performing interviews and selecting staff in line with company policy and legislation.
  • Transport construction supplies: Bring construction materials, tools and equipment to the construction site and store them properly taking various aspects into account such as the workers’ safety and protection from deterioration.
  • Position anchor poles: Lower and raise the anchor poles, or spuds, of a dredge vessel. Determine the desired position of the spuds and release them. Hoist the spuds back up to change the position of the ship.
  • Calculate needs for construction supplies: Take measurements on site and estimate the amount of materials required for the construction or restoration project.
  • Construct dams: Dewater a suitable area through the construction of a diversion tunnel and use earthmoving equipment to build a coffer dam. Remove rocks and rubble in order to construct a plant, which uses concrete to prevent water leakages by using waterstops.
  • Inspect concrete structures: Visually inspect a concrete structure to see if it is structurally sound. Check for different types of cracks, such as those due to reinforcement corrosion, impact damage or high water content.
  • Display warnings around dive site: Ensure that warning devices are displayed in the area around a dive site, so as to keep it clear of any equipment other than that associated with the diving operation.
  • Perform diving interventions: Perform hyperbaric interventions at a maximum pressure of 4 atmospheres. Prepare and review the personal equipment and the auxiliary material; perform and supervise the dive; realise maintenance of the diving equipment and auxiliary material; apply the security measures to assure the divers security on the realisation of low deep immersions.
  • Dive with scuba equipment: Use scuba equipment to dive without air supply from the surface.
  • Position dredger: Communicate with the captain or mate to move the dredge into the right position to commence the dredging operation.
  • Order construction supplies: Order required materials for the construction project, taking care to purchase the most suitable material for a good price.
  • Report defective manufacturing materials: Maintain required company records and forms in order to report any defective materials or questionable conditions of manufacturing machinery and equipment.
  • Maintain diving equipment: Perform maintenance actions, including small repairs, on diving equipment.
  • Recognise signs of corrosion: Recognise the symptoms of metal showing oxidation reactions with the environment resulting in rusting, copper pitting, stress cracking, and others, and estimate the rate of corrosion.
  • Construct canal locks: Install lock systems in sections of canals for the raising and lowering of vessels from one level to another. These are used for their passage over canals as well as for the control of the water level.
  • Provide technical expertise: Provide expert knowledge in a particular field, especially concerning mechanical or scientific subjects, to decision makers, engineers, technical staff or journalists.
  • Measure water depth: Measure the depths of a body of water by using depth measuring equipment such as a depth gauge.
  • Train employees: Lead and guide employees through a process in which they are taught the necessary skills for the perspective job. Organise activities aimed at introducing the work and systems or improving the performance of individuals and groups in organisational settings.

ISCO group and title

3123 – Construction supervisors


References
  1. Underwater construction supervisor – ESCO
  2. Featured image: By Official U.S. Navy Page from United States of AmericaPetty Officer 1st Class Arthurgwain Marquez/U.S. Navy – Navy Diver performs underwater cutting operations using a Broco torch., Public Domain
Last updated on June 11, 2023