{"id":257325,"date":"2024-09-30T14:33:00","date_gmt":"2024-09-30T20:33:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/mfe-is.com\/?p=257325"},"modified":"2025-04-09T17:17:21","modified_gmt":"2025-04-09T22:17:21","slug":"drones-in-maritime-inspection-a-time-saving-cost-effective-tool","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/mfe-is.com\/fr\/drones-in-maritime-inspection-a-time-saving-cost-effective-tool\/","title":{"rendered":"Drones in Maritime Inspection: A Time-Saving, Cost-Effective Tool"},"content":{"rendered":"\t\t
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Drones in Maritime Inspection: A Time-Saving, Cost-Effective Tool<\/h1>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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The implementation of drones during shipping inspections is becoming essential as the maritime industry realizes the potential of drones to eliminate safety hazards, substantially lower maintenance costs, and perform inspections without the loss of production time. Drones are an advantageous tool while performing inspections in the air, underwater, and now even inside confined spaces such as holds and ballast tanks.<\/p>

The\u00a0detection of corrosion\u00a0is paramount in the maritime industry with corrosion having the potential to inflict damage from the port\u2019s infrastructures to the exterior and interior of vessels. It is important to conduct routine inspections in order to detect corrosion damage, but also corrosion must be consistently monitored to track the corrosion\u2019s growth. Lack of frequency should not be a limitation in such an important inspection. Drones can provide high quality visual representations of the inspection area that can be viewed in real-time or saved for future comparisons.<\/p>

\u201cThe more you know about what\u2019s out there in terms of NDT tools and monitoring techniques, the more equipped you\u2019ll be to make a choice that will preserve the longevity of the assets you\u2019re in charge of monitoring,\u201d says\u00a0Jason Acerbi, CTO and VP of Sales<\/a> at MFE.<\/p><\/blockquote>

In the Air<\/strong><\/h2>

In the air, using drones eliminates the need to utilize expensive and time-consuming methods. The taller tanks on ships can reach more than 25 meters high and may require the construction of scaffolding and hung staging equipment. Not only is this dangerous for inspectors, but this process requires machinery to be shut down\u2013a very costly practice. Drones are able to carry out the same inspection quickly and efficiently with inspectors remaining on the ground.<\/p>

In order to fly a drone as a commercial operator, the FAA requires pilots to pass a Part 107 Certification Exam and follow specific guidelines to ensure maximum safety while flying. There are drone training courses that will prepare you for the exam and train you for an industrial environment inspection such as MFE Rentals\u2019 five-day\u00a0Advanced Drone Piloting Course<\/a>. The course trains pilots in the complexities involved in advanced commercial drone<\/a> operation such as creating a pre-flight checklist, compensating for erratic movement, accommodating for structures in line of flight, making appropriate camera choices, and creating a flight plan.<\/p>

FAA regulations require pilots to keep their drone within sight during flight and use a secondary visual observer for those utilizing first person views or similar technology. Pilots may also only fly during daylight or in twilight and maintain a maximum of 400 feet above the ground or higher if the drone remains within 400 feet of a structure.<\/p>

However, the FAA does not monitor the enclosed air spaces involved in many industrial inspections. Consequently, the FAA Part 107 Exam<\/a> is not a requirement for the inspection of confined spaces.<\/p>

Confined Spaces<\/strong><\/h2>

Indoor inspection such as inside the hull of a ship has many challenges. The atmosphere within a tank is dark and hot, and inside the tanks, inspectors may be exposed to dangerous gases that may not be detectable by smell. Inspections are usually performed by a team of inspectors who must climb on ropes without safety nets. If not ropes, then scaffolding must be constructed within the space. This is a time-consuming, expensive, and dangerous project.<\/p>

Flyability Inspected Six Tanks in Two Days with the Elios During a Shipping Inspection Case Study<\/a><\/p><\/div>

The use of caged drone technology allows inspectors to conduct these inspections in a fraction of the time while eliminating health risks and financial costs. Caged drone manufacturer Flyability conducted\u00a0a case study<\/a>\u00a0with their\u00a0Elios caged drone<\/a>\u00a0and was able to perform an inspection on six tanks in two days compared to the tanks\u2019 usual inspections that lasted 18 days and consisted of three to four rope inspectors.<\/p>

In\u00a0a subsequent case study<\/a>, Flyability used Elios to inspect the ballast tank of one of CMA CGM\u2019s container ships. They needed to inspect the 323 meter vessel\u2019s general integrity, corrosion level, and monitor the anodes within the ballast. The ballast was 15 meters long with two manholes that were 600mm and 400mm respectively. An inspection that normally required three to four inspectors utilizing ropes, oxygen monitoring devices, and extensive safety equipment was conducted by one pilot with three flights that were 10 minutes long each. The caged drone\u2019s collision tolerance and onboard lighting allowed the pilot to maneuver the drone safely and efficiently without any external lighting.<\/p>

Underwater<\/strong><\/h2>

Drones can also be used to perform visual inspections underwater. Underwater drones allow port authorities and border security professionals to perform hull inspections on each passing vessel. These underwater drones or ROVs eliminate the need to send a diver underwater and vessels aren\u2019t forced to incur expensive delays while drydocking.<\/p>

The ROV camera records the condition of the hull markings, rudders, sacrificial anodes, and propellers. Also the\u00a0Deep Trekker ROV systems, like the PIVOT<\/a>,\u00a0can be outfitted with a thickness gauge to test the thickness of the hull.<\/p>

As technology advances, the use of drones will only increase with features on the horizon such as detailed 3D models of interior assets and more advanced automations. With its use in the air, confined spaces, and under water, drones are a crucial time-saving and cost effective tool for the maritime industry.<\/p>

To learn more about how the Flyability Elios and Elios 2 or to request a quote, contact us at\u00a0sales@mfe-is.com<\/a>.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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