Page 58: of Offshore Engineer Magazine (Jan/Feb 2026)

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DIGITAL TRANSFORMATION DIODE LASERS

BRIGHT PROSPECT:

Blue Lasers for the Deep Sea

All images © Laserline

From cutting and drilling to paint stripping and removing maritime fouling, underwater tasks in the maritime environment are as numerous as the grains of sand on the beach. Some of these applications are carried out at depths of several thousand meters. A new laser system based on blue diode lasers now promises a contact-free, low- maintenance, and cost-efcient solution for a wide range of underwater operations.

By Dr. Simon Britten, Senior Technology Manager at Laserline hether in the maintenance of offshore plat- (ROVs) and often cause them to drift away.

forms, the decommissioning of old oil rigs, Consequently, the industry shows great interest in con- or the inspection of underwater structures, tact- and force-free, low-wear, low-maintenance alternatives

W the demands for precision, effciency, and – possibilities that laser technology in particular can offer. environmental compatibility in subsea operations continue Initial attempts, however, were not very successful. Early ef- to increase. At the same time, conventional methods quickly forts to use conventional infrared (IR) lasers to cut structures reach their limits here. Common pressure-based processing during oil platform decommissioning proved only partially methods, such as high-pressure water jets used to remove practical. The primary reason: infrared radiation (wave- algae growth, lose their effectiveness with increasing depth length 1000 nm) is completely absorbed by water within just due to the high counterpressure of the water. Additionally, a few centimeters, resulting in signifcant energy loss. For many of these systems require intensive maintenance and are subsea applications, IR laser cutting can therefore only be prone to wear. Mechanical tools such as circular saws, in performed using an air nozzle or an air-flled chamber – a turn, generate recoil forces upon contact with components, complex and cost-intensive process that also prevents use at which destabilize remotely operated underwater vehicles greater depths.

Image above: Underwater processing with blue diode laser – Perforation / Penetration through 8 mm steel plate.

58 OFFSHORE ENGINEER OEDIGITAL.COM