Eyes in the sky and sea: new opportunities for drone use in inspection

Like flying cars and jetpacks, drones may feel like technology from the future. But drones are becoming commonplace in many industries today – and the maritime sector is no exception. Remote inspection techniques using drones can bring many benefits for ship and offshore asset owners. As drone technology rapidly advances, what options exist today and what are the considerations for ship owners?

Meet the new fleet of driverless vehicles

Broadly speaking, there are two types of drones: remotely operated vehicles (ROVs) and unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs). If you ever played with a remote-controlled toy as a child, then you’ve come across ROVs.

However, when most people hear “drone,” they picture a miniature battery-powered helicopter-like aircraft. That is a perfect example of a UAV, although not all UAVs are battery-operated. Some flying drones are powered using umbilical system cables that can keep them airborne indefinitely.

The newest generation of UAVs is equipped with robust measurement and detection tools. The latest drones can include anything from ultrasonic thickness measurement (UTM) technology to measure hull integrity to LiDAR systems for creating 3D maps of inspection sites. This is particularly beneficial to the maritime industry because drones can enter and assess locations that would be difficult and risky for crews or surveyors.

Upping the survey game

Many ROVs that function like miniature remote submarines are already in use, to examine hull parts for example. Though UAVs are much less common, they can be just as effective. Visual monitoring systems are also improving, making flying drones suitable for Class surveys.

Inspections conducted by the latest generation of high-tech drones substantially improve on traditional methods. UAVs reduce the need for cherry pickers, climbers and scaffolding to inspect very high areas. They are therefore safer, cheaper and less resource intensive than any traditional Class survey method. For example, an inspection that once took two crew members can now be conducted by one nimble drone, comprehensively checking every inch of the site. Crews nevertheless remain a vital part of the inspection process.

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But not yet a perfect tool

While drone technology is advancing rapidly, remote inspection techniques still have limitations. Battery-powered drones can only stay airborne as long as their batteries last, and umbilical drones are not a perfect solution because their cables restrict maneuverability. Drones are also expensive. These factors, though, are common in emerging technologies, and we are already seeing some improvements. Battery capacity and flight times have increased by 20%, and costs will decrease as drones become more common.

A more complex task is maximizing the usefulness of the data drones collect. Surveys typically only require a summary of findings. What should ship and asset owners do with all the data drone cameras and tools automatically collect during the remote survey process? The maritime industry should find a way to leverage that information, using 3D models for example. There’s no reason to leave potentially insightful data on the table when findings could instead be integrated into analytics systems.

An autonomous future

Drones are only likely to become more widely used and advantageous in the next decade. We could even see autonomous drones in shipping as early as in the next five years. These future drones could rely on an automatic guiding system thanks to embedded LiDAR technology to enter compartments independently and conduct surveys without human operation. The next generation of drones could become intelligent and self-guided enough to autonomously find entrances into confined spaces and scan surroundings, all while guaranteeing that their analyses are thorough and safe.

At the nexus of safety and innovation

With a regulatory framework already in place, UAVs and ROVs present a credible solution to meet Class survey requirements in a safer, more cost-effective and often faster manner.

At Bureau Veritas, we understand the importance of these developments. We are collaborating with drone service suppliers and issuing certificates for remote inspection techniques. We support ship and offshore asset owners in leveraging remote inspection techniques and drones as a reliable alternative to traditional inspection methods.

We are committed to ensuring the safety of this new technology and harnessing its benefits. Our teams are actively developing new tools like mapping and corrosion detection systems to expand drones’ uses. Pioneers in safety and performance, Bureau Veritas has the expertise to integrate the latest technological advancements smartly and safely into the maritime industry.