Dutch non-destructive testing (NDT) company Ned Marine is expanding its inspection capabilities with NDT drone services. Flying drones and subsea ROVs are to enable faster, safer and more efficient inspections of vessels, offshore installations, industrial assets, and confined spaces.
Faster inspections, less downtime
Drone-based inspections allow Ned Marine to carry out 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:
By eliminating the need for extensive access equipment and reducing human exposure to hazardous environments, these “flying inspections” can be completed significantly faster, often within hours instead of days. This minimises operational downtime, which is especially relevant for seagoing container vessels and tankers.
Inspection times can be reduced by up to four times, while overall costs can be significantly lower compared to traditional methods.
Subsea inspections up to 300 metres
In addition to its aerial services, Ned Marine now also offers subsea NDT inspections using remotely operated vehicles (ROVs), capable of operating at water depths of up to 300 metres. The technology serves as a practical and cost-efficient alternative to diving operations.
The ROVs provide high-definition live video streams and detailed inspection data, supporting:
Leo Zwagemaker, Commercial Manager at Ned Marine: ‘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.’
Integrated NDT approach
The new drone and ROV services are fully integrated into Ned Marine’s existing NDT offering, which includes visual testing (VT), ultrasonic thickness measurements (UTM) and detailed inspection reporting. Combining visual data, measurement results and digital analysis, provides a complete and reliable overview of asset condition, enabling better maintenance planning and reducing the risk of unexpected failures.
