AkzoNobel, DroneOps and Barrier Group have partnered to develop drone technology for remote inspection of offshore wind farms as well as ballast water tanks on ocean going ships.
The project, code named RECOMMS (Remote Evaluation of Coatings and Corrosion on Offshore Marine Structures and Ships), will use advanced virtual reality technology and semi-autonomous operation of a drone to deliver safer, more accurate evaluations of ballast water tanks and other enclosed or difficult to access spaces/areas on vessels and offshore structures, including inspections of coatings and corrosion, AkzoNobel said.
Traditionally, these inspections are carried out by crew, surveyors or independent inspectors. Such inspections are a risky activity that represents one of the most common causes of work-related fatalities in the industry, according to AkzoNobel.
Michael Hindmarsh , spokesperson for RECOMMS and Business Development Manager at AkzoNobel’s Marine Coatings Business, said: “Surveys of enclosed spaces and ballast water tanks are an essential part of routine maintenance on board vessels and offshore structures, and are increasingly critical for ship owners. However inspecting these areas thoroughly can require working at height, entering confined spaces, and negotiating slippery surfaces that could be poorly lit, all of which are high-risk activities that the maritime industry is keen to address.”
By replacing human inspections with a drone, routine maintenance can be monitored remotely in real time by office-based staff, with instant feedback available to the vessel or offshore structure’s superintendent.
RECOMMS has been fully funded by AkzoNobel, Barrier Group, Drone Ops Ltd, with part funding from Innovate UK and additional expertise provided by Marine Technical Limits Ltd, Safinah Ltd and Elcometer Ltd.
Together, the partnership is said to offer a complete view of the issues and challenges associated with enclosed space inspections, including coatings expertise and consultancy, drone building, an in-depth working knowledge of current repair and inspection practices, and ownership of marine structures.
As the project progresses, the drone will undergo flight trials at AkzoNobel’s UK-based coating test block, and Barrier Group’s indoor training facility, with the drone’s completion and launch, planned for October 2017.
“Using the unique expertise and experience of our partners and supporters, RECOMMS aims to utilise the rapid development of drone and autonomous technologies to make remote inspections of ballast water tanks and other enclosed spaces possible. This in turn will reduce costs, increase efficiency and most importantly, significantly reduce risk to human life during essential maintenance,” Hindmarsh said.