Sweden Faces Urgent Challenges in Aging Underwater Infrastructure; Suab Leads Specialized Maintenance Efforts

Sweden's underwater infrastructure, including bridges, ports, and water and sewage systems, is rapidly aging, creating a substantial maintenance backlog that demands immediate and sustained intervention. Pelle Hansson, owner of Suab—a specialist diving and underwater construction company—stresses the critical importance of expert skills, teamwork, and safety when working in challenging aquatic environments.

Founded in 1969 and family-owned since 2007, Suab has earned a strong reputation in Sweden for handling complex underwater operations ranging from inspections to intricate constructions. Their clientele comprises major construction companies, government bodies, municipalities, and energy firms. One notable project involved extensive underwater concrete casting in central Stockholm to enable reconstruction after a fire, while in 2025, Suab completed Sweden’s longest beam construction in Södertälje Canal, showcasing their specialized expertise.

Much of Sweden's key infrastructure was built between the 1950s and 1970s and is now reaching the end of its functional lifespan. This aging has intensified the need for modernization and thorough maintenance, a demand Suab is well-positioned to meet. According to Hansson, the company’s divers and specialists operate much like a national team, relying heavily on trust and rigorous safety standards to perform their work in a high-risk environment.

As the maintenance debt grows, Suab aims to remain the primary expert for underwater construction and repairs, emphasizing that their services are indispensable when traditional construction teams cannot operate below water. Their continued involvement is crucial to ensuring the safety, functionality, and modernization of Sweden’s underwater infrastructure, which is vital to the country’s economy and transportation networks.

With infrastructure challenges escalating, Suab’s role underscores the broader nationwide urgency to address decades-old structures before their deterioration impacts safety and operations.