Diamond Wire Pile Removal – Clean Cuts Above and Below the Surface
In West Wales at Milford Haven, our dive team recently completed a technically demanding pile removal using specialist diamond wire cutting equipment – above and below the waterline.
Led by James Bramwell, Technical Diving Manager, the team was tasked with removing a heavy-duty concrete-filled steel pile that posed an obstruction to upcoming building works. Straightforward in principle, but far from simple in practice.
The pile was cut in stages due to its weight, with sections removed both above the sea surface and subsea, right down to the seabed. Operating in a restricted and difficult-to-access location meant conventional access wasn’t an option. Instead, a multicat vessel was mobilised to house the crane, power pack and diamond cutting rig – creating a fully self-contained offshore engineering setup.
Diamond wire cutting technology is well known in civil engineering, but using it underwater is far less common. The approach delivered clean, vibration-free cuts, reduced time spent in the water, and ensured the work was carried out efficiently and safely.
James Bramwell reflected on the operation: “Opportunities to use diamond wire cutting subsea don’t come up every day. It’s specialist kit, and it needs the right planning and the right team around it. By cutting the pile in stages and working from a fully self-contained multicat setup, we were able to control the lift, minimise diver exposure time, and achieve precise, clean cuts throughout. It was a great example of practical engineering meeting specialist dive capability.”
This project highlights the value of combining experienced dive teams with the right technology for the task. When access is tight, loads are heavy, and precision matters, careful planning and specialist equipment make all the difference.
If you’re facing a complex subsea engineering challenge or require obstruction removal ahead of construction works, our team is ready to support. We’ve been delivering specialist marine solutions for years – and we’re always keen to take on the next interesting engineering problem. Get in touch today!
