EXTERNAL VESSEL INSPECTIONS
Big names in the maritime industry such as DNV-GL, Lloyds Register and Maersk have all shown strategic intent to revolutionise their operations by embracing drone technology and many maritime operators are now following suit.
All shipowners know that traditional methods of external vessel inspection can be a costly affair. Now that high definition, camera-equipped drones are widely available and affordable, using them for external vessel inspections to assess that the structural condition
remains effective, is becoming more common. Identifying substantial corrosion, significant deformation, fractures, damage, or other structural deterioration can be done quickly, easily and cost-effectively using drones.
External inspection typically involves an initial screening of the vessel by the drone. This identifies any areas that require closer inspection, without the need for any access equipment. To do this, the drone is flown over the surface of the vessel using an automatic flight control system controlled by a human pilot. The drone automatically captures
survey data, such as video and high resolution images automatically during the flight. The survey data, in addition to payload data, is then transmitted to the system user, who then reviews the information to check for defects on the vessel’s exterior, such as peeling paintwork and dents.
The benefits of drone surveys and inspections are unmatched: acquiring data for external inspections takes a fraction of the time when compared against traditional methods and vessel downtime for inspection is greatly reduced.
TANK INSPECTIONS
The visual inspection of cargo tanks was traditionally performed by workers suspended on ropes to inspect the tank structure. Inspections, which are required on a regular basis, focus on areas of high stress such as stiffeners, brackets, bracing, webs and stringers and assess the coating condition and check for corrosion and damage within the tank. The sheer size of modern-day vessels however, means that access methods including staging, rafting and climbing are often used by surveyors to access tanks in order to carry out their observations.
Traditional approaches to tank surveys therefore have three main drawbacks: high set-up costs, lengthy inspection times and a high level of personal danger for the worker. For the surveyor, the task typically involves high rope access, working within a confined space, often for extended periods of time. In contrast, drone surveys require no human access to the tank and since no access equipment is required, there are no setup costs and inspections can be completed within a quicker timeframe. For a survey of critical components of a tank, it’s not unusual for shipowners
to see a reduction in survey times from three or four days, to completion within one day.
Another key advantage to shipowners, is that by using a drone over conventional staging inside the tank, the risk of damage to the coating from staging is eliminated. Thanks to these benefits, tank surveys using drones are becoming increasingly popular and drone surveys are offered on all large internal tanks, on vessels such as Floating Production, Storage and Offloading (FPSO) units, bulk carriers and tankers.
The Report • June 2017 • Issue 80 | 61
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