Exploring the potential of less intrusive, safer, more flexible and standardised surveys in confined and enclosed spaces, REDHUS is developing automated ship surveys, using drones and AI. DNV is leading the project, which is in response to a growing need from customers.
Inspections of enclosed and confined spaces such as cargo and ballast tanks on board ships often require scaffolding and staging to be erected to give human surveyors access. This is expensive, time-consuming and makes for hazardous working conditions. Also, inspections may be needed in remote locations and when travel or access is restricted for various reasons. Customers are looking for more remote inspection options and LiDAR-enabled drones make this possible inside the ship where GPS signals are not available.
Making remote internal ship inspections a cheaper, safer, and quicker reality
The objective of the REDHUS project is to realize automated remote drone-based ship hull surveys. Since it is impossible for drones to know their location inside a ship’s hull using GPS, drones with LiDAR capability use laser signals for localization and to build a 3D model of the space.
Once modelled, a flight plan programmed into the drone can allow it to function autonomously and its on-board cameras and other instruments are used to detect defects such as cracks or corrosion affecting the ship structure. Artificial Intelligence (AI) and recordings allow the defects to be pinpointed and subjected to closer inspection by human surveyors. Autonomous drone inspections can be carried out as required without need for drydocking or deviation from voyage routes.
The REDHUS project is partly funded by the Research Council of Norway, and the project partners are DNV, Altera Infrastructure, Klaveness, Scout Drone Inspection, and NTNU.
The benefits
The benefits of remote drone survey are many and include having more insight and decision support for proactive maintenance, thus potentially reducing ship maintenance costs. Also, drone surveys enable the earlier detection of defects by detecting the patterns that can lead to them occurring.
Drone inspections also allow for flexibility around when and where inspections can be done, leading to less delays to vessels and the elimination of costs connected with erecting access staging. Another benefit is safer inspections as human surveyors will not be required to work under hazardous conditions at heights, in potentially toxic atmospheres, and in confined and enclosed spaces. The digital survey process also enables more consistent, transparent reporting of inspection results to meet ever stricter value chain and cargo owner requirements.
Market potential
Even before the Covid pandemic and increasingly since, ship operators have been demanding more remote surveys and inspections. Certainly, reducing surveying costs is a goal for most ship operators, and reduced ship costs can also make for lower costs for cargo owners and other stakeholders, thus making the operator service more in demand.
Additionally, all ship types have enclosed spaces that require inspection at regular intervals, so the benefits and market potential are not limited to one ship type.
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