Taking the Plunge: A Guide to Starting an Underwater Welding Career

Part I

Taking the Plunge: A Guide to Starting an Underwater Welding Career

Over the years, a number of people have expressed an interest in careers in underwater welding, but were unsure how to get started. Welders, students, divers, and other interested men and women have contacted the American Welding Society (AWS) for guidance. In order to help those prospective underwater welder-divers, the D3B Subcommittee on Underwater Welding has provided answers for some commonly asked questions.

What skills are prerequisite to entering the field of underwater welding?

The skills suggested for entering the field of underwater welding can best be defined by the following typical description of a welder-diver from the AWS D3.6 Standard. "Welder-diver: A certified welder who is also a commercial diver, capable of performing tasks associated with commercial subsea work, weld setup and preparation, and who has the ability to weld in accordance with the AWS D3.6." By description, an experienced welderdiver must possess: commercial diving skills (i.e., be familiar with the use of specialized commercial diving equipment, have an understanding of diving physiology, diving safety, rigging, the underwater environment, communication, etc.); weld setup and preparation skills (i.e., the ability to perform tasks typically assigned to a fitter or rigger, such as materials alignment and materials preparation including beveling, stripping of concrete, fitting a steel patch or repair plate, etc.,); and the ability to certify to a required underwater weld procedure.

I am a certified surface welder, what other training do I need to qualify as a welder-diver?

The majority of work performed by an average welder-diver does not involve the welding operation itself, but rather executing the tasks that lead up to and follow the actual welding activities. Except under special circumstances, a welder-diver in most cases must posses both certified welder skills and commercial diving skills. It is suggested that if you have no prior commercial diving experience you should attend one of the recognized commercial diving schools. The candidate may be required to pass a diving physical prior to school acceptance and in some cases a written exam. It is suggested that a dive physical be taken regardless, to avoid going through the expense of training only to later find you have a disability that prevents your entering the profession. Once that basic commercial diver training is completed, it is common practice to apply for employment at one of many commercial diving companies that offer underwater welding as a service. An interview with the company of your choice is recommended to express your career goals in underwater welding and past welding experience. Expect to begin your career as a diver tender (apprentice diver) initially. As a diver tender you will gain valuable practical experience while learning the trade.

What are the age limitations of a welder-diver?

There is no age restriction on commercial welder-divers. There are, however, physical requirements. It is recommended and generally required that all commercial divers pass an annual dive physical. The commercial diving profession is physical demanding. It is rare to see an active commercial welder-diver over the age of 50.

Part I I

Complex Object

Конструкция, называемая в английском языке Complex Object (сложное дополнение) состоит из 2 частей:

§ Существительное или местоимение в объектном падеже(me, her, him, you, them, us)

§ Инфинитив

Например:                                                      

Do you want the children to stay? – Ты хочешь, чтобы дети остались? (существительное + инфинитив)

Do you want ustostay? – Ты хочешь, чтобы мы остались? (местоимение в объектном падеже + Инфинитив).

На русский язык Complex Оbject обычно переводится придаточным дополнительным предложением с союзами что, чтобы, как.

Примеры:

Would you like me to help you? – Хочешь, чтобы я помогла тебе?

I want my daughter to learn English. – Я хочу, чтобы моя дочь изучала английский.

I want Harry to leave. – Я хочу, чтобы Гарри ушел.

Обратите внимание, что инфинитив может стоять в любой из своих форм. Например, если мы говорим о прошлом, то использовать нужно перфектный инфинитив:

I know her to have graduated from the university three years ago. – Я знаю, что она закончила университет три года назад.

Если нужно передать страдательный залог, то используется пассивный инфинитив:

I suspect him to be helped by her. – Я подозреваю, что она ему помогла.

Part I

Taking the Plunge: A Guide to Starting an Underwater Welding Career

Over the years, a number of people have expressed an interest in careers in underwater welding, but were unsure how to get started. Welders, students, divers, and other interested men and women have contacted the American Welding Society (AWS) for guidance. In order to help those prospective underwater welder-divers, the D3B Subcommittee on Underwater Welding has provided answers for some commonly asked questions.