Dutch non-destructive testing specialist Ned Marine Services has expanded its inspection capabilities with the launch of subsea remotely operated vehicle (ROV) and flying drone inspection services for non-destructive testing (NDT).
The new service is aimed at Dutch and wider European customers and is fully integrated into Ned Marine’s existing NDT offering, which includes visual testing (VT), ultrasonic thickness measurements (UTM) and detailed inspection reporting.
The subsea NDT inspections using ROVs support hull inspections, cathodic protection assessments, structural condition monitoring and pre-docking surveys at water depths of up to 300 metres.
“By integrating arial drone and ROV technology into our NDT services, we can allow our clients to further reduce downtime and make better-informed maintenance decisions. 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,” said Leo Zwagemaker , Commercial Manager at Ned Marine.
According to Ned Marine, drone-based inspections enable visual inspections and thickness measurements (UTM) in areas that are difficult to access using conventional methods such as scaffolding, rope access or diving operations. Typical applications include confined spaces on board vessels, offshore and onshore wind turbines, tank storage facilities and industrial structures and installations.