Netherlands-based Ned Marine has introduced new drone and Remotely Operated Vehicle (ROV) services for Non-Destructive Testing (NDT). The company aims to provide faster and safer inspections of vessels, offshore installations, and industrial assets both above and below the waterline.
The aerial drone services enable visual inspections and Ultrasonic Thickness Measurements (UTM) in confined spaces and areas that are difficult to access, such as ballast tanks, cargo holds, and wind turbines.
By removing the requirement for scaffolding or rope access, the company says that these inspections can reduce downtime for seagoing tankers and container vessels by up to four times.
“By integrating aerial drone and ROV technology into our NDT services, we can allow our clients to further reduce downtime and make better-informed maintenance decisions,” said Leo Zwagemaker, Commercial Manager at Ned Marine.
“The fact that our inspectors can now also work remotely, with real-time data accessible worldwide, also adds value: this method improves decision-making and facilitates a more seamless collaboration between vessel operators, surveyors and technical teams.”
For underwater requirements, the company now operates ROVs capable of reaching depths of 300 metres. This technology serves as an alternative to traditional diving operations for hull inspections, cathodic protection assessments, and pre-docking surveys.
The ROVs provide high-definition live video and data to support structural condition monitoring.
