Inspection & Maintenance

Hulls, ports and infrastructure

Ship hulls, propellers, sea chests, quay walls and bridge piers all need regular checks for damage, corrosion and fouling. An observation ROV lets an operator survey these surfaces on live video, record footage for the file and flag areas for a closer look. The appeal is often speed and repeatability: a vehicle can be in the water quickly, and the same route can be filmed on each visit so changes are easier to spot. Where formal surveys are required, check what the relevant authority or classification body accepts.

Pipelines, cables and energy

Subsea pipelines, cables and offshore structures are inspected for exposure, damage, marine growth and the condition of corrosion protection. Short runs and shallow sections can suit compact ROVs, while long routes and deep sites typically call for larger work-class vehicles or AUV surveys. Useful sensors include high-definition cameras, imaging sonar for low visibility, and probes that measure cathodic protection or wall thickness. When you assess a vehicle, ask which of these it can carry, how the data is stored, and whether it fits the reporting format your engineers already use.

Aquaculture

Fish farms use underwater robots to check net pens for holes and fouling, inspect moorings and observe stock as part of routine site work. The job suits compact ROVs that a site team can launch from a walkway or service boat. Before choosing one, consider how it copes with current around the pens, how well the tether behaves near nets, how steadily it holds position for usable footage, and how easily the vehicle can be cleaned between sites to support biosecurity.

Sources and further reading

• Survey by remote inspection techniques: use of approved service suppliers — DNV.
  How class surveys can use drones and ROVs when the work is done by suppliers approved under IACS UR Z17.
• 2023 IMO Biofouling Guidelines (resolution MEPC.378(80)) — International Maritime Organization.
  IMO guidance on managing ships' hull fouling, including biofouling management plans and records of hull cleaning.
• NS 9415 Floating aquaculture farms: site survey, design, execution and use — Standard Norge.
  Norwegian standard for fish farm structures, including inspection and maintenance duties set out in user handbooks.

Common questions

Can an underwater robot replace a diver?

For many visual checks it can reduce how often divers enter the water. Repairs, cleaning and certified inspections may still need divers or larger vehicles, so plan the two together.

What if the water is murky?

Cameras struggle in poor visibility. Imaging sonar can build a picture where cameras cannot, and good lighting helps at close range. Check which sensors a vehicle supports before you buy.