DSV (Dive Support Vessel)

A DSV (dive support vessel) is the offshore ship that supports saturation and air diving on subsea structures, configured with deck decompression chambers, a launch-and-recovery diving bell, and a moon pool or side door. Saturation diving keeps divers under pressure in the deck complex between bell runs, which extends bottom time from minutes to weeks and makes deep pipeline, wellhead, and platform work practical. Dynamic positioning to class DP2 or DP3 is standard so the vessel holds station over the divers without dropping anchors near the work. Many DSVs carry a work-class remotely operated vehicle and a subsea crane so a single deployment covers diving and light construction.