India Register trains underwater welders as part of Made In India push

Indian Register of Shipping (IRS) has partnered with Technology Innovation Hub (TIH) Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Guwahati to complete India’s first training and certification programme in deep diving and underwater welding, in line with the country’s drive to become self-sufficient in shipbuilding and ship repair.

The training was conducted at the Neel diving academy in Kochi, where participants were trained to conduct welding operations underwater, and their work was evaluated and tested according to the stringent quality and safety standards.

Dubbed “the most dangerous job on Earth” by National Geographic, underwater welding is the combination of two extremely hazardous professions in one. Crews must learn to deal with conditions of near-zero visibility, the constant threat of nearby underwater debris compromising the integrity of their welds, and must also fight the current just to stay in place during a meticulous and careful manual process.

“This course is a pioneering effort to equip our workforce with underwater wet welding capabilities along with deep water diving, which will be instrumental in supporting India’s critical oil, gas, and shipping infrastructure,” said Dr Asokendu Samanta, divisional head of R&D at IRS.

IIT Guwahati director, Prof. Devendra Jalihal, added: “This is an important and first-of-its-kind skill development program in India that combines academic rigor with practical expertise. We are delighted to partner with IRS to foster capabilities essential for the nation’s maritime and energy sectors.”