Integrity assurance for iconic underwater structures
Seawater is a chemical plant. We see the damage before it breaks.
Independent underwater NDT inspection, quality control and expert assessment, from major public aquariums to architectural pools and marine infrastructure, across six regions of the world.
Lloyd's Register certified inspectors. References include SeaWorld Abu Dhabi, Atlantis The Royal, Nausicaá and Pairi Daiza.
Civil standards were not designed for seawater environments
Ruptures and cracking of panels, joints and tanks at public aquariums worldwide, according to MAREX's own field experience, including cases investigated under confidentiality. Some occurred only weeks or months after opening. In each case, the warning signs were there before the failure.
Marine and coastal inspection expertise, applied where civil standards fall short.
Qualified NDT inspectors and professional divers, inspections carried out while the facility stays in operation, and independent reporting.
Learn more →What we protect
- OperatorsKeep the facility open and safe.
- BuildersProve the quality of the work at handover and limit liability.
- Operating staffDivers, aquarists and technicians work in and around the tanks every day.
- Living collectionsFauna and flora that cannot be evacuated or replaced overnight. Our divers work around them, never against them.
- The publicVisitors stand inches from millions of litres of water.
- Business continuityAn unplanned closure costs months of revenue.
- ReputationOne failure makes headlines for years. Prevention never does.
Trusted on landmark projects
SeaWorld Abu Dhabi · Atlantis The Royal · One Za'abeel · Burj Khalifa · Nausicaá · Aquatis · Pairi Daiza · FIVE Luxe JBR · The World islands
Selected projects. On each, MAREX intervened in construction quality control, periodic inspection in operation and/or technical expertise on damage.
Seawater is not harmless. It is a chemical plant.
Seawater, life support systems, marine life and millions of litres under pressure act on every material: acrylic, structural silicone, concrete, rebar, stainless steel. MAREX brought offshore inspection methods to public aquariums and applies the same discipline to every asset we inspect. Inspection reveals how these materials degrade before failure occurs; without it, degradation progresses silently.
About MAREX →Four families of iconic underwater structures
Large public aquariums
Giant acrylic panels, tunnels, life support environments and marine mammal pools, inspected while the facility stays open.
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Architectural pools
Cantilevered, glass-bottom and rooftop pools where structure, acrylic and sealing meet at height.
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Marine & coastal infrastructure
Reinforced concrete, outfalls, moorings and coastal structures exposed to seawater.
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Expert witness for insurers & courts
Independent technical expertise on damage, disputes and claims for courts, insurers, law firms and owners.
Explore →The MAREX Integrity Process
One structured method, from desk study and site visits to the signed inspection report, applied identically on every project and in every country.
- 01
Preparation & desk study
Before any site work, we study the asset and its context.
- 02
Client meetings & technical visits
Objectives, constraints and access are confirmed with the client and on site.
- 03
Underwater inspection & investigations
Underwater and atmospheric NDT by certified diver and rope-access inspectors, with ROV and drones where relevant. Samples are taken for laboratory analysis.
- 04
Laboratory & data analysis
Concrete samples, and water that has migrated through the concrete, are analysed in the laboratory. Field and laboratory data are then consolidated and analysed before any conclusion is drawn.
- 05
Report, validation & sign-off
The report is written, controlled and validated, then signed by a certified inspector.
The deliverable is the inspection report.
Validated, signed, traceable and actionable. Every finding is linked to field evidence, and no report leaves MAREX without the signature of a certified inspector.
AI integrated into inspection since 2019
Our AI was trained for two to three years on our standards, materials, procedures and report formats, then fine-tuned on real cases. It supports preparation, field execution, data analysis and report writing. A certified inspector validates and signs every deliverable. On SeaWorld Abu Dhabi, the daily reporting cycle of 12 inspectors fell from 40 to 50 hours to 4 to 5.
AI & Data →Core material specialities
Acrylic viewing panels
Condition assessment of giant acrylic panels and tunnels for underwater viewing.
Silicone sealing under water pressure
Inspection, leak detection and repair supervision of structural silicone joints.
Concrete & waterproofing
Thermal movement management, tank watertightness systems and laboratory analysis of concrete.
Rebar corrosion
Corrosion of carbon steel reinforcement in concrete: potential mapping, laboratory analysis of migrated water and diagnosis.
Stainless steel in seawater
Corrosion analysis and prevention for stainless steel exposed to seawater.
Selected references
What clients and partners say about MAREX
“On the Orlando project, MAREX dealt with stainless steel corrosion problems that nobody had anticipated at that level. Their diagnosis was clear from the first visit, and their recommendations could be applied straight away. We were able to fix things without putting the schedule at risk.”
“On One Za’abeel, we had watertightness problems caused by thermal movements. The thermal insulation did not match what the acrylic panel manufacturer had required, and heat conduction through the floor made it worse. MAREX identified the causes, proposed the corrections, and we resolved all of it. Their approach was technical and pragmatic.”
“On SeaWorld Abu Dhabi, MAREX ran the quality control campaigns and provided technical expertise throughout the construction phase. It is the largest public aquarium in the world. Their constant presence and their ability to deal with complex issues in real time were decisive in meeting the requirements.”
“MAREX is a long-standing partner. Their command of joints and of the marine environment lets us offer our clients solutions with a high level of guarantee and safety, combining the quality of our acrylic resins with their inspection expertise. For us, they are a natural complement.”
“On Atlantis The Royal, MAREX dealt with corrosion of stainless steel in contact with seawater, as well as leaks at the interfaces between different materials, caused by thermal movements during construction. They brought concrete solutions and had them approved on site.”
“Since 2019, MAREX has been our IRM partner, for inspection, repair and maintenance, on the five projects we have built. They know our facilities, anticipate the points to watch, and their reports let us plan maintenance with accurate data. We work together on an ongoing basis.”
Safety, independence and traceability as operating standards
Project-specific diving safety plans, protocols for live environments with marine life, independent findings and traceable, signed reports.
QHSE & Independence →Certified inspectors, recognised professional bodies
Lloyd's Register certified underwater NDT inspection, commercial diving and inspection drone qualifications, and memberships of recognised corrosion, NDT, waterways and attractions industry bodies.
Planning an inspection programme or a tender?
Send us your scope, drawings and timeline. We return a structured technical and commercial proposal.