Introduction

An offshore desalination facility operating near Santa Barbara, California required stabilization of its seawater intake pump platforms to protect ongoing plant operations. The intake towers, critical to the plant’s ability to safely draw seawater, were showing signs of destabilization due to seabed conditions and environmental exposure. Subsea Global Solutions was engaged to execute a comprehensive offshore stabilization program using marine construction and commercial diving techniques, with all work performed from a nearly 300-foot long anchored construction floating barge.

The Challenge

The desalination plant owner, City of Santa Barbara, identified increasing instability around the intake tower foundations and required proactive intervention before operational performance was impacted. The project location presented inherent challenges, including offshore swell, weather variability, and limited working and permitting windows. Additionally, unforeseen subsea obstacles were discovered during execution, requiring removal before stabilization work could proceed. Given the critical nature of the intake structures, all activities had to be completed without damaging existing pipelines or disrupting plant operations. Subsea Global Solutions was sole-sourced for this scope due to its offshore construction expertise and ability to execute the work safely and efficiently.

‍

Scope of Work & Solution

Subsea Global Solutions’ US West Coast team deployed a five-person commercial diving crew onsite for approximately one month to complete the stabilization program. The planned scope of work included dredging beneath the intake towers to prepare the seabed, constructing a defined perimeter around each structure, installing underwater formwork, and pouring a concrete stabilization slab to secure the foundations. Upon completion of the slab, a protective rock apron was installed around the entire structure to prevent future scour and erosion. External temporary metal members were also installed to shield adjacent pipelines, ensuring uninterrupted operations and eliminating the risk of accidental damage during construction.

During execution, the team encountered minor weather and swell delays, as well as unforeseen subsea obstructions that required removal prior to continuing work. Subsea Global Solutions worked closely with the plant owner ,City of Santa Barbara, to develop and implement a change-order action plan that allowed the project to proceed safely and efficiently. Despite these challenges, the project was completed within the planned 25-day schedule, operating continuously across weekdays and weekends. The work was delivered on deadline and under budget, with only weather and unforeseen conditions preventing an earlier completion.

Conclusion

The offshore pump platform stabilization project was completed successfully, restoring the integrity of the intake towers and protecting the desalination plant’s long-term operational reliability. Subsea Global Solutions’ proactive problem-solving, close coordination with the owner (City of Santa Barbara), and disciplined offshore execution resulted in a safe, efficient outcome that met all project objectives and permit requirements. The client expressed strong satisfaction with the team’s performance and particularly valued Subsea Global Solutions' ability to address challenges decisively throughout the project lifecycle.

Offshore Structural Stabilization & Marine Construction

Subsea Global Solutions provides offshore structural stabilization and marine construction services for energy, industrial, and utility assets, including intake structures, pump platforms, foundations, and subsea infrastructure. Our commercial diving and marine construction teams delivers dredging, underwater concrete placement, formwork installation, rock armoring, and structural protection solutions that mitigate risk, extend asset life, and ensure operational continuity—without the need for shutdowns.