The Benefits of Using Underwater Drones for Tank Inspections

Employing underwater drones for tank inspections can bolster security, speed, efficiency, and overall response capabilities. The profound impact of surmounting the traditional challenges encountered by ports in infrastructure and asset inspection has elevated underwater drones to a principal tool for tank inspections.

Drones can collect a broad spectrum of data from demanding locations, enabling us to rapidly and securely acquire precise information, facilitate decision-making, and proactively tackle potential issues. This, in turn, facilitates more efficient maintenance planning, virtually eradicating downtime and extending the lifespan of the port’s assets.

How does the Underwater Drone Work?

Inspecting tanks with underwater drones can improve security, speed, efficiency, and overall response capabilities. The shift in overcoming the traditional challenges faced by ports in infrastructure and asset inspections has been so significant that underwater drones are now a fundamental tool for tank inspections.

Drones can collect various data from difficult-to-reach locations, allowing for the swift and secure acquisition of precise information, aiding decision-making, and proactively addressing potential issues. This also improves maintenance planning effectiveness, virtually eliminating downtime, and extending the lifespan of the port’s assets.

Is it Cost-Effective to Produce this type of Drone?

Underwater drones have proven to be cost-effective in ensuring the durability and cleanliness of tanks. Their use eliminates the need for manual inspections, thereby lowering insurance costs for inspectors and workers.

Furthermore, a notable benefit of employing underwater drones for asset inspection is the promotion of preventive inspections. This strategy emphasizes proactive inspection rather than solely reacting to regulations or urgent needs, considering the potential financial impact on businesses.

CONFINED SPACES

Indoor inspections, such as those conducted within tanks, present numerous challenges. Within a tank, conditions are typically dimly lit, hot, and potentially contain hazardous gases that may not be detectable by smell. Traditional inspections often require a team of inspectors navigating ropes without safety nets or erecting scaffolding within the confined space, a process that can be both time-consuming and hazardous.

However, underwater drone technology provides a solution to these challenges, allowing inspectors to conduct inspections much more efficiently, minimizing health risks, and reducing financial costs.

UNDERWATER

Drones can also be employed for underwater visual inspections, enabling port authorities and border security personnel to scrutinize the hulls of passing vessels. These underwater drones, also referred to as ROVs, eliminate the necessity of sending a diver underwater and prevent vessels from encountering costly delays associated with drydocking.

The ROV camera captures images of the hull markings, rudders, sacrificial anodes, and propellers.

As technology continues to progress, the utilization of drones is anticipated to rise, with features such as detailed 3D models of internal assets and enhanced automation on the horizon. Drones are a crucial, time-saving, and cost-effective tool for the maritime industry, with applications in the air, confined spaces, and underwater.

In comparison to dive teams and work class ROVs, our clients have experienced up to 60% cost savings. Our micro/mini ROV is an unmanned underwater drone capable of conducting visual inspections underwater at depths of up to 150 meters. The micro ROV is operated via a handheld console from a research vessel or quay, with results displayed on a secondary screen. Our reporting software provides clients with a comprehensive survey record.

To discuss any of the concepts described here in more detail, our friendly and experienced customer service team can help. We offer tried and tested services around Houston, Texas and Longbeach, California.

Call Panel Tanks by American Tanks at +1 800 656 0167

Or email at info@americanpaneltanks.com 

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