4 PERSONNEL, QUALIFICATIONS, AND QUALITY

ASSURANCE

4.1 PersonneI

Underwater diving and ROV NDT inspectors should be at least as

qualified as their above-water counterparts to ensure adequate
inspection. Special quality assurance measures may be needed to
compensate for the working environment and possible lack of
operator expertise, and will be outlined in Section 4.3.

4.2 Qualifications

Underwater NDT inspectors should be proficient in both diving and

NDT. Despite the recent trend in much NDT equipment to de-
emphasise the diver’s role in inspection by placing the onus on
topsides inspectors linked by telemetry, it is still most important that the
diver be competent in his own right as an inspector.

4.2. J Diving qualficafions

Diver-inspectors should be well-qualified divers and have extensive

experience in the types of dive required, in order to allow maximum
concentration on the NDT work.

4.2.2 NDT qualficafions

Underwater diving and ROV NDT operators should be well-trained in

the NDT techniques in question and have proved their abilities by
examination, either based on a recognised above-water certification
scheme with supplementary underwater tests, or a special scheme for
underwater NDT.

Many NDT techniques now fall within the coverage of several

internationally recognised qualification schemes such as CSWlP
(Certification Scheme for Weldment Inspection Personnel) or the
equivalent. However, some of the newer NDT methods inevitably fall
outside these established schemes and reliance must be placed on
training provided by the manufacturer of the NDT equipment or
similar competent bodies, together, ideally, with relevant experience.

10
As a minimum, the inspector in such cases must undergo specialist
training and be closely supervised by personnel competent in the use
of the system under operation.

The theoretical and practical training should be at least as extensive

as for an above-water operator for the NDT technique in question,
and should reflect the difficulties of working underwater as far as
possible. As noted below, tests should be as representative of the
actual inspection conditions as possible.

In general, in addition to NDT knowledge, it is highly desirable for the

inspector to have some theoretical background in materials
engineering, underwater structures, and knowledge of flaws and
damage likely to be encountered.

4.2.3 Surveillance personnel

Above-water personnel used to supervise and survey the NDT work

should be properly trained and qualified. They should have detailed
knowledge of the NDT techniques in question, the structure under
survey, and the working conditions, in order to guide and assist the
diver-inspector properly.

4.3 Quality assurance

The following measures may help to assure the quality of the

inspection.

0 Verification tests

Verification tests are useful to check the adequate functioning of an

examination system (personnel, equipment, etc) and are often
required by companies engaging inspection firms, government
bodies and certifying authorities prior to an inspection job. Verification
tests are used more frequently for underwater NDT than is the case
above water. More comprehensive verification may be required for
novel methods and equipment (see Section 11). Verification tests
should attempt to simulate the conditions to be encountered during
inspection as closely as possible, ideally by using test samples of

11
representative geometry, made from similar materials, and containing
flaws of the kind expected.

b Surveillance

In addition to its use for quality assurance, surveillance may be

required by company procedures in the interests of safety. It may be
carried out by inspectors above water, using aids such as underwater
TV cameras mounted on ROVs, direct communication lines to
underwater NDT inspectors, and/or examination of recording
equipment above water.

0 Stringent requirements for reporting and documentation

Inspection performance and results may be recorded by still

photography or video recording.

b Audit by re-inspection by a third party

b Tuition and familiarisation.

It is obviously important that an underwater NDT operator is given

adequate time to become familiar with new equipment and
techniques before their use underwater, particularly if the inspection is
to involve unusual applications or areas.

12