ROV Innovations

Underwater Inspections in lieu of Dry Dock (UWILD)

ECA GROUP has designed a specific ROV solution to meet 100% of hull examination requirements specified by international classification societies (IACS) such as ABS, DNV-GL and Lloyds.

This solution is by far more efficient than traditional UWILD methods:

Divers
Conventional ROV’s
Magnetic crawlers

Type of interventions:

Inspection
NDT measurements
Cleaning

DRAWBACKS OF TRADITIONAL UWILD METHODS

DIVERS

Can’t approach the hull in case of rough or turbid seas
Safety hazards
Poor efficiency, hence high costs

TRADITIONAL INSPECTION OR WORK CLASS ROV’S

Can’t remain at close contact with the hull
Inoperable in case of rough seas

MAGNETIC CRAWLERS

Need manual handling for docking on the hull
Possible loss of magnetic adherence in case of significant marine growths and irregular shapes

THE ROVING BAT SOLUTION

ROVING BAT has been specifically designed to operate on ship hulls -

Swims, tilts/rolls, docks, crawls
Inspects, measures, cleans

HYBRID VEHICLE

TraditionalROV
Crawler

MODULAR VEHICLE

Open frame structure
Various embarkable loads

ADVANTAGES COMPARED TO TRADITIONAL UWILD SOLUTIONS

Thruster powered adherence
Auto docking functions

ABS REQUIREMENTS FOR HULL IN WATER INSPECTION

General examination of 100% of underwater hull
Including rudders, propellers, propeller shaft clearances
Close visual examination of critical areas
Corrosion protection potentials check and anode survey
Splash zone examination

ABS REQUIREMENTS FOR HULL IN WATER MEASUREMENTS

Cathodic protection and hull thickness measurements

The Roving Bat solution: a NDT Unit installed at the back of vehicle, and operated via a finger guide system;
it incorporates:
- a cathodic protection measurement probe
- a metal thickness measurement probe

ABS REQUIREMENTS FOR HULL IN WATER CLEANING

Spot cleaning or extensive cleaning

The ROVING BAT solution for cleaning:
Alternative A: JETTING System
The ROV incorporates a stainless steel cleaning nozzle installed on the manipulator arm aside a micro colour video camera

Alternative B: Double dome Cavitation system
The ROVING BAT can be equipped with a high-pressure water power unit generating cavitation at the end of proprietary nozzles.

The system cleans the hull using the energy released by the implosion of the bubbles during the cavitation process, causing marine growth to be removed from the surface. Each dome incorporates three rotation nozzles, which besides cleaning, creates a vortex effect, hence increases the ROV adherence to the hull.

ABS RECOMMENDATIONS FOR A LEADING EDGE ROV

ROV tools

Eddy current inspection
Alternating current field measurement
Ultrasonic shear wave, phased array and thickness testing
Crawlers
Pencil cameras

3D optical or laser scanning
Class and owner witnesses stay on shore
Identifies areas that require cleaning or further examination
Cleans areas, measures and evaluates new readings
Produces simple graphical result or model, identifying amount of -

Wastage
Erosion
Physical damage

This is a short video of the Roving Bat in action, completing a general visual inspection, a close visual inspection, cathodic protection reading as well as a metal thickness reading with an NDT probe. The Roving Bat ROV can work in oceanic conditions that would prove impossible for commercial divers or other ROVs.