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Celebrating 80 Years of Excellence: Subsea Global Solutions
This year, Subsea Global Solutions proudly celebrates 80 years of innovation, growth, and dedication to the maritime industry. Our journey has been marked by groundbreaking achievements, global expansion, and a steadfast commitment to delivering world-class underwater solutions. From all of us at Subsea Global Solutions, thank you to our dedicated teams, clients, and partners for trusting us to deliver world-class underwater solutions. As we celebrate this milestone, we look forward to the future of underwater excellence.
1940s
The Foundations of Innovation
In 1945, Subsea Global Solutions’ legacy began with the founding of Parker Diving Service in Long Beach, California, and J.W. Gray Marine Divers in Sydney, Australia. Bill Gray, a veteran of World War II, brought his expertise from the American Small Ships group to establish a company that would play a crucial role in underwater construction and salvage operations. Gray Diving quickly became a leader in port facility construction, submarine pipeline installation, and bridge carpentry.
1950-60s
Expansion and Early Achievements
During the 1950s and 1960s, both Parker Diving and Gray Diving Services flourished. Gray Diving was integral in constructing vital infrastructure, including wharves, dams, and bridges in Australia. Parker Diving played a key role in deep-sea pipeline installations along the California coast, pioneering air diving techniques to depths of 250 feet, which at the time were considered cutting-edge.
1970s
Global Reach and Technical Prowess
The 1970s saw further expansion and technical innovation. Miami Diver and All-Sea Enterprises were founded in Miami, Florida, and Vancouver, Canada, respectively. Gray Diving undertook major international projects, such as a 36” pipeline rotation in Bahrain, solidifying its long-term relationship with Caltex. Meanwhile, Parker Diving contributed to the installation of ocean outfalls across Southern California, helping expand critical infrastructure.
1980s
Industry-Defining Firsts
The 1980s were marked by groundbreaking industry achievements:
- 1984: The first underwater propeller blade straightening by cold static loading, in collaboration with LIPS Propulsion.
- 1989: The first underwater tunnel thruster exchange, revolutionizing vessel maintenance.
During this period, Gray Diving continued to evolve under Rip Gray’s leadership, expanding into salvage operations and hydroelectric station maintenance.
1990s
Strategic Alliances and Growth
The 1990s brought rapid growth and strategic partnerships:
- 1993: Parker Diving changed ownership, leading to a revitalization of its operations with high-profile projects like the Henry Ford Bridge Replacement.
- 1997: Miami Diver International was established in Curaçao, expanding its global footprint.
- 1998: The Subsea Solutions Alliance (SSA) was formed, bringing together key industry players to drive underwater engineering innovations, such as the first underwater Controllable Pitch Propeller (CPP) blade seal change-out.
- 1999: The company achieved its first underwater wet weld approval for fillet welds in accordance with the Class A requirements of AWS D3.6 -- Underwater Welding Code.
Gray Diving Services underwent multiple ownership transitions while maintaining its strong presence in shipping and salvage.
2000s
Engineering Excellence and Industry Leadership
The new millennium marked major technological breakthroughs:
- 2003: First underwater Azimuthing thruster exchange.
- 2008: First underwater fin stabilizer removal (28 tons), further advancing wet welding techniques.
These milestones solidified SSA’s position as a leader in underwater repair and maintenance.
2010s
Unifying Under One Global Entity
In 2011, Miami Diver, Parker Diving Services, and other key players merged to form Subsea Global Solutions, establishing a single, world-class provider of underwater services.
- 2014: During the SMM (International Maritime Trade Fair) in Hamburg, Germany, Subsea Global Solutions became the first to be awarded the DNV GL Workshop Approval for Welding certificate, allowing the company to perform permanent underwater wet weld repairs in certain areas of vessels and on a case-by-case approval.
- 2018: Acquisition of Muldoon Marine Services in Long Beach, CA, strengthening U.S. operations.
- 2019: Acquisition of Underwater Contractors in Singapore and Gray Diving Services in Sydney, expanding Subsea Global's reach into the Asia-Pacific region.
2020s
Continued Expansion and Innovation
- 2020: Gray Diving Services, long a trusted partner of SGS, was fully integrated into the company after a 29-year tenure under Greg Vitnell and Russell Gately.
- 2021: Expansion into Europe with the acquisition of SRN Group, introducing advanced ROV hull cleaning technology.
Today, Subsea Global Solutions operates in over 14 locations worldwide, continuing to push the boundaries of underwater engineering. With a legacy of 80 years of innovation, SGS remains committed to excellence, ensuring the future of maritime maintenance and repair is brighter than ever.
Subsea Global Solutions is a leading commercial diving company operating in the maritime industry with a highly skilled technician base of over 200 divers and ROV operators that are full time employed in 14 locations across 5 continents and numerous working partnerships worldwide. Subsea Global Solutions has an unparalleled technical capability to deliver turn-key solutions at a global scale. We continually strive on developing new underwater technologies and advanced service/repair methods focused on efficiencies and safety to our customers, to be “the one source for global underwater solutions”.
Subsea Global Solutions Formation
Subsea Global Solutions was the logical outcome of an alliance between the Miami Diver group of companies on the U.S. East Coast and Parker Diving Service LLC on the U.S. West Coast. Miami Diver began operating in 1976, and Parker Diving Service first opened in 1945. The individual companies have merged into Subsea Global Solutions in 2011.
Acquisitions
Following the merger, Sea Sub Systems (a local diving company in Tampa, Florida) joined the Subsea Global Solutions group in February 2016. In March of 2017, the All-Sea group of dive companies have been wholly acquired by Subsea Global Solutions, a critical move which provided home stations on both the East and West coasts of Canada, the U.S. Pacific Northwest, and South Korea. November 2018 brought the acquisition of Los Angeles based Muldoon Marine Services, further strengthening Subsea Global Solutions capabilities and operations on the U.S. West Coast.
Another critical milestone was the acquisitions of Underwater Contractors Pte. Ltd. in Singapore and Gray Diving Services Pty. Ltd. in Sydney, Australia in November 2019, further strengthening Subsea Global Solutions capabilities and operations Asia and southern hemisphere. Both brands have long roots in the commercial diving industry.
Our strategic expansion in Singapore was boosted in February 2020, with the addition of TTS (T&T Salvage Asia) Diving Division to our growing network and made Singapore the largest office of the Subsea Global Solutions network.
Finally, our latest acquisition included our long-awaited expansion into Northwest Europe - as well as West Africa in September 2021 with the acquisition of SRN Group Diving & ROV underwater Services (Belgium), which also introduced a highly mobile and robust Hull Cleaning ROV (CROV) to the Subsea Global Solutions family.
Together, Subsea Global Solutions offers a truly global footprint today.
