Southampton: SMS Group invests in diving and sub-surface engineering

The Southampton-based SMS Group has launched four new diving and sub-surface engineering hubs to improve response times and customer service.

It is a specialist in ship repair, marine engineering and major fabrication projects in the commercial marine, defence, cruise and superyacht sectors.

For many years, it has supported its core customer base with diving and sub-surface engineering with equipment and suitably qualified and experienced personnel (SQEP) based in Dover, Kent.

Now it has invested in new plant and equipment, and relocated legacy equipment, to create four new sub-surface ‘hubs’. They are its existing marine engineering bases in Dover, Lowestoft, Portsmouth and Avonmouth. The company has also expanded its subcontract diving database of SQEP.

Diving and technical manager John Webb, who is leading the service, said: “The provision of support to core SMS customers around the group is very, very important. To better look after our existing customers, we’re proud and pleased to make this investment. It’s great news at the right time.”

Webb added: “Long-term partnerships, service agreements and an understanding of the ‘life-time value’ of customer relationships is at the heart of The SMS Group’s growth and this recent investment.”

The SMS Group’s diving and sub-surface engineering services cover a wide range from pre-purchase surveys, hull inspections, underwater fitting and machinery to magnetic particle inspection (MPI) and ultrasonic testing.

Other services include crack detection, in-water surveys, repairs and installations, propeller clearing, fouled running gear and underwater situation assessments, salvage and damage assessments, remotely operated vehicle deployment and contaminated water diving.

Webb added: “It’s a broad offering that is now supported by a larger geographical network. We’ve moved the diving offering from ‘local’ to ‘national’, and it’s been very well received by both new and existing customers.”

The SMS dive team has commercial, defence, in-shore and off-shore diving experience with specific quayside/ports and harbour marine civils capability. The business provides 24/7 support, from seven locations in the UK.

Visit www.sms-marine.co.uk for more details.