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ALCIBIADES III 14th May 2018

ALCIBIADES III PROJECT BRIEF To organise for this vessel to be delivered from Italy and to carry out extensive works ready for a season of racing in preparation for a Fastnet Campaign.  A comprehensive WBS was drafted upon its arrival to LYH comprising of multiple tasks.  On completion of the planning and commissioning works the timeline was calculated and the tasks were categorised into Summary Tasks comprising of:-  Decommissioning works, Mechanical works, Yard works, Rigger works, Electrical works, Safety servicing…

50′ YACHT TRANSFORMATION PROJECT 20th October 2017

50′ YACHT TRANSFORMATION PROJECT PROJECT BRIEF To transform this 2006 50′ performance cruising yacht back to her former glory ready for brokerage. RESPONSIBILITIES Director of Operations | Project Manager | Quality Control.  I was responsible for the creating the initial work breakdown structure (WBS), appointing all specialists including surveyors, shipwrights, sailmakers, yard hands, electrical engineers, mechanical engineers, safety equipment servicing, brokers and riggers.  Co-ordinating all works from inception to completion with all final detailing including teak restoration, prop burnishing and…

PROPELLER BURNISHING SAILING YACHTS 18th October 2017

PROPELLER BURNISHING SAILING YACHTS PROJECT BRIEF To remove all fouling and crustacean deposits from sailing yacht propellers for both cruising and racing yachts.  Works included all preparations and burnishing to a mirror finish in order to reach optimum performance and improve the overall efficiency of the yachts. RESPONSIBILITIES Director of Operations | Project Manager | Polisher and Finisher.  All works were carried out with the props and shafts in situ, with all prep work undertaken by hand due to the intricate nature…

SUPERYACHT METALWORK PROJECTS 18th October 2017

SUPERYACHT METALWORK PROJECTS PROJECT BRIEF Initial involvement was specifically related to the office which was under pressure and behind schedule due to a significant number of large projects requiring attention to detail in order to make the fabrication process seamless.  Having an understanding of the detailed projects and a practical mindset I was quickly tasked to operate between the office and the workshop floor in an effort to bring the projects back on track due to skilled staff shortages. RESPONSIBILITIES I…

MV FLYING FISH 17th October 2017

MV FLYING FISH PROJECT BRIEF Make her look pretty again!  To rejuvenate this tired old motor vessel that required stripping back to the gel coat, prepping, priming and respraying.  To also fabricate new reinforced flooring sections in the wheelhouse area and design/draft new trim pintles for the outdrive unit ready for re-fabrication. RESPONSIBILITIES Director of Operations | Project Manager | Restorer.  I was responsible for all works from inception to completion.  The deck areas had significantly deteriorated along with multiple…

MOTOR YACHT TEAK RENOVATION 16th October 2017

MOTOR YACHT TEAK RENOVATION PROJECT BRIEF To rejuvinate tired teak deck on motor yacht RESPONSIBILITIES Director of Operations | Project Manager | Restorer.  I was responsible for all works from inception to completion.  Despite these decks being over 10 years old I was able to bring them back to life with significant results before finishing them with a high grade sealer to help protect them throughout the year. CLIENT Private Client CHALLENGES With a previous application of tinted sealer being…

RE-ENGINEER INTERIOR MAST SUPPORT COLUMN 5th October 2017

RE-ENGINEER INTERIOR MAST SUPPORT COLUMN PROJECT BRIEF To rectify distorted interior mast support column on 50′ sailing yacht highlighted during survey.  I appointed and co-ordinated 6 skilled specialists to carry out each phase of the works which included riggers, yardmen, shipwrights, fabricators, engineers, and of course the yacht brokers that were marketing the yacht for sale. This was a bespoke project with the initial works to identify why the unit had failed so drastically.  It was identified that this issue…

OCEAN GIANTS 4th October 2017

OCEAN GIANTS PROJECT BRIEF THE DREAM MAKER – To plan and execute a 30 day, 30,000 mile adventure for my 2 young children, Ocean (aged 12) and Summer  (aged 10) to gain a greater understanding of Ocean Giants and other selected marine species around the coast of Australia with the main priority being to locate and swim with the largest fish in the Ocean, the Whale Shark.  Marine conservation is very close to my heart and having lived in Australia…

SUPER YACHT MV SENSES DRAFT REDUCTION 18th June 2015

SUPER YACHT MV SENSES DRAFT REDUCTION PROJECT BRIEF Assigned for the installation of x12 enclosed buoyancy units each with a capacity of providing 5 tonne of lift to MV Senses , a 60m super yacht within the confines of Trafalgar Wharf.  It was calculated that the correct positioning of each lift bag would provide a total lifting capacity of 60 tonne providing 6″ of uplift without compromising the A.V.S of the vessel.  Each bag was coupled to a compressor via a…

HOLCOMBE HOUSE RENOVATION 3rd June 2015

HOLCOMBE HOUSE RENOVATION PROJECT The joint acquisition of this derelict property dating back to 1911 at the age of 24 years old was no mean feat!  The objective was to create a family home overlooking the sea using reclaimed and natural materials wherever possible.  My partner and I undertook the majority of all works ourselves with contractors bought in for the final fix to enable the property to be signed off.  As well as carrying out the construction works I…

A.L.B INVERSION LINE TESTING 20th May 2015

A.L.B INVERSION LINE TESTING PROJECT BRIEF The brief was to rig and capture the inversion process of both a 5 tonne and 10 tonne A.L.B (Air lift bag).  Both units were secured to a 19 tonne DMA (Dead Mans Anchor) at depth.  Once fully inflated the bags were released from the DMA via a 10t SWL release hook.  The client was a global company specialising in underwater air lift bags and buoyancy systems for both inshore and offshore projects with…

SANDSTONE ROCK ARMOUR REMOVAL 29th April 2015

SANDSTONE ROCK ARMOUR REMOVAL PROJECT BRIEF To locate and remove a number of 5 tonne sandstone boulders so that the site contractor could complete the installation of a sheet pile retaining wall.  On completion of piling works, rock armour was to be reinstated to provide a suitable means of scour protection. RESPONSIBILITIES I was responsible for interpreting the drawings provided by the client and compiling the dive management system which included everything from the sequence of works to be adopted…

SUBSEA REGATTA SUPPORT 28th April 2015

SUBSEA REGATTA SUPPORT PROJECT BRIEF To become market leaders in the supply of services for sub surface regatta support at all major regattas around the UK and Ireland. RESPONSIBILITIES Director of operations responsible for streamlining this function of the business which generated enough cash flow for the company to move into the Civil Engineering sector without any additional borrowings.  I was responsible for all business and operation processes from marketing our services prior to each event, obtaining clearance and dive permits…

THAMES WATER LIVING FILTER INSTALLATION 24th April 2015

THAMES WATER LIVING FILTER INSTALLATION PROJECT BRIEF Assigned to compile the comprehensive and vigorous paperwork required by Thames Water to undertake the installation of a living filter at Farmoor Resevoir.  The project comprised of several phases but primarily in the construction and anchoring systems for a series of floating reed beds housed in gabion baskets located in front of the pump house.  With the reservoir being man-made we used hydraulic machinery to drill into the reservoir substrate in which eyelets…

RIVER STOUR SCOUR PROTECTION SYSTEMS 24th April 2015

RIVER STOUR SCOUR PROTECTION SYSTEMS PROJECT BRIEF The installation of scour protection surrounding the cutwater section of a main pier structure spanning the river stour.  This project used a pumpable micro concrete mix that was operated from a topside unit and directed into position by the diver.  Prior to carrying out the works, we had to prepare the area using hydraulic underwater cutting equipment to clear a number of subsurface obstructions. RESPONSIBILITIES As director of operations and project manager I…

RIVER AVON SCOUR PROTECTION SYSTEMS 23rd April 2015

RIVER AVON SCOUR PROTECTION SYSTEMS PROJECT BRIEF The installation of eco sensitive scour protection systems around the abutment structure of a main line railway bridge spanning the River Avon.  With   the site being of SSSI and the land privately owned by the Royalty Fisheries, strict protocol and operating procedures had to be adhered to at all times making this project both ambitious and complex.  With rock armour already in situ we were initially assigned to create a mattress formulated…

COWES INSHORE LIFEBOAT SLIPWAY CONSTRUCTION 26th March 2015

COWES INSHORE LIFEBOAT SLIPWAY CONSTRUCTION PROJECT BRIEF Principle diving contractor to undertake all subsea operations in the construction and installation of Cowes Inshore Lifeboat Station.  This project ran over a series of weeks in conjunction with the topside contractor Raymond Brown Construction Ltd with our involvement from inception to completion.  Operations included numerous aspects of subsea civil engineering including but not restricted to, dredging, drilling, welding, cutting, grinding, painting/coating, cementing and final fixings. RESPONSIBILITIES Project Manager responsible for all subsurface…

LINCOLN SHEET PILE CUTTING 26th March 2015

LINCOLN SHEET PILE CUTTING PROJECT BRIEF Phase 2 of this project was to cut underwater using ultrathermic cutting rods burning in excess of 10,000°F at the tip.  The sheet sheet piles were installed by the contractor and once piled to the desired depth, each top section was cut at a specified height above bed level.  Due to the tidal range at this location some of the cutting works were conducted at low water using oxygen/acetylene therefore maximising our time on…

RIVER TRENT CONTAINMENT CURTAIN DEPLOYMENT/RECOVERY 24th March 2015

RIVER TRENT CONTAINMENT CURTAIN DEPLOYMENT/RECOVERY PROJECT BRIEF Initial brief was to install a containment curtain for construction works to commence.  Due to the fast flowing nature of this River the curtain had to be secured to the river bed via a number deadweights which comprised of x8 RSJ’s.  Upon completion of works we were contracted in the removal of the curtain, assigned the task to remove the anchor weights and finally the ground chain that was used to keep the…

NON DESTRUCTIVE TESTING STEEL PILES 24th March 2015

NON DESTRUCTIVE TESTING STEEL PILES PROJECT BRIEF To provide images and data to determine the reduction in section thickness of the steel supporting piles.  The cumulative losses from all relevant faces needed to be considered and therefore readings were taken using Non Destructive Testing equipment at selected points between the atmospheric zone and the immersed zone.  On this project we used the Cygnus 1 Underwater thickness gauge complete with topside repeater. RESPONSIBILITIES I was responsible for compiling the dive management…

TORRY QUAY CONTAINMENT CURTAIN INSTALLATION 24th March 2015

TORRY QUAY CONTAINMENT CURTAIN INSTALLATION PROJECT BRIEF To secure supplied brackets to the wharf exterior which would be used to attach a purpose built articulating containment curtain during excavation works.  The brackets were provided by our client and our task was to deploy and install the curtain in situ terminating at each side of the entrance where we had installed the brackets.  Once completed excavation works could commence by onsite contractors with the curtain providing sufficient containment of sediment and…

TRINITY LANDING PONTOON MAINTENANCE 24th March 2015

TRINITY LANDING PONTOON MAINTENANCE PROJECT BRIEF To undertake routine maintenance works subsurface, consisting of surveys, investigations, tightening and replacement of all underwater fixings.  All survey works consisted of accurate recording and photography detailing non-conformances which ultimately over a period of time provided a suitable trend analysis of problematic areas.  Maintenance routines were developed from the non-conformances and trend analysis with periodic replacement of fixings undertaken bi-annually.  Each fixing was correctly tightened using a hydraulic torque wrench both topside and underwater….

COMMERCIAL SWIMMING POOL MAINTENANCE 11th February 2015

COMMERCIAL SWIMMING POOL MAINTENANCE PROJECT BRIEF To remove and replace with new, all cracked and broken tiles.  To remove existing poor grout for a 20m section of the pool and replace with new.  With a large section of all tiles bowing from increased water pressure behind the tiles it was deemed too dangerous to drain the pool in the event that the integrity of the remaining tiles may be jeopardised and implode.  Our alternative was to construct a cofferdam creating a “dry zone”…

TOTLAND PIER NON DESTRUCTIVE TESTING 11th February 2015

TOTLAND PIER NON DESTRUCTIVE TESTING PROJECT BRIEF To carry out an underwater survey on this disused pier and present our findings in a formal report complete with underwater images and readings taken from NDT equipment for a prospective buyer. RESPONSIBILITIES Project Manager managing the entire project and responsible for designing template documents to record the data and images for each section of the pier. To accumulate all data retrieved from the dive team into a formal report and submit to…

MV SEA RAIDER SALVAGE 11th February 2015

MV SEA RAIDER SALVAGE PROJECT BRIEF My company was responsible for the successful recovery of MV Sea Raider from the main channel in the Solent fairway. The vessel sank within minutes of striking a lateral mark finally resting on the seabed at 25m.  Our brief was to secure and recover without disruption to the main shipping channel and to stabilise the vessel for towage to Cowes with consideration for routine traffic and the environment. RESPONSIBILITIES Project Manager for the mobilisation…

SY BOOMERANG SALVAGE 11th February 2015

SY BOOMERANG SALVAGE PROJECT BRIEF To recover and stabilise this sunken vessel from the river bed that was still attached to her mooring.  To appoint a towage contractor and and standby during towing operations until the vessel was safely alongside. RESPONSIBILITIES Project Manager responsible for all operations including the appointment of diving contractors, dive management systems, risk assessments, recovery strategies and the overall co-ordination between all those involved in the project. CLIENT Private client CHALLENGES No salvage operation comes without…

SY BLUE ANGEL SALVAGE 11th February 2015

SY BLUE ANGEL SALVAGE PROJECT BRIEF To recover sunken vessel from the seabed that had suffered major structural damage compromising its integrity. RESPONSIBILITIES Project Manager responsible for all diving operations including the mobilisation of all units to assist in the recover of this vessel.  I was responsible for creating the dive management system which included everything from risk assessment strategies through to methodology. CLIENT Private client CHALLENGES Strong tides, poor visibility and a vessel that was structurally unstable.  Routine shipping…

LOCK MAINTENANCE & CONFINED SPACE PROJECTS 11th February 2015

LOCK MAINTENANCE & CONFINED SPACE PROJECTS PROJECT BRIEF To carry out a series of vital maintenance procedures on an existing series of lock gates segregating a private marina from the main river fairway.  In addition to these works we were tasked to investigate a series of faults creating reoccurring problems affecting the operational functionality of the lock and jeopardising its future sustainability.  One of the suggested solutions was to standardise the existing wheel assemblies with 316 stainless steel shafts and A.B.S…

AC45 DIVE SUPPORT AND CRISIS MANAGEMENT 11th February 2015

AC45 DIVE SUPPORT AND CRISIS MANAGEMENT PROJECT BRIEF Tasked to provide diving support to the B.A.R (Ben Ainslie Racing) team during their 2013 multi hull record attempt around the Island in the event of capsize.  My dive team stayed alongside the AC45 during her record attempt and were in a state of readiness to act in the event of a major incident. RESPONSIBILITIES I was responsible for drawing up the detailed brief to both the divers and the sailing team of…

ROCK ROLL MATTRESS INSTALLATIONS 11th February 2015

ROCK ROLL MATTRESS INSTALLATIONS PROJECT BRIEF Used as a temporary scour protection measure, our brief was to install a series of rock rolls to form a rock roll mattress that was capable of resisting high velocities and shear stress loads of up to 1200 k/N which equates to around 120 ton-force within a high energy river.  This system was temporary but it provided a suitable instant and flexible solution where other bioengineering techniques would be less effective.  The rolls were…

DEFLECTOR PLATE DESIGN INSTALLATION AND DEMOBILISATION 11th February 2015

DEFLECTOR PLATE DESIGN INSTALLATION & DEMOBILISATION PROJECT BRIEF To co-design and fabricate a deflector plate to divert the main flow of water around the team of divers working within a high energy river.  The unit was fabricated off site but assembled in situ on the river bank with the trench plates being welded into position both topside and subsurface by my team upon installation of the main steel framework.  Pre site surveys depicted the exact location and installation procedures which…

Stacey Rivers Project Management