Underwater inspections are an essential part of the maintenance and safety of underwater infrastructure. Through these inspections it is possible to assess the condition of submerged structures, detect possible damage and prevent problems that could lead to costly repairs or operational risks.
In this blog, we will explain what underwater inspections are, why they are important in ports and how ROV technology and machine vision are transforming the way they are carried out.
What are underwater inspections?
A underwater inspection is a technical service performed by professional divers or remotely operated vehicles (ROVs). It consists of the assessment and documentation of the condition of submerged assets, such as ship structures, port infrastructures (piers and docks), pipelines, dams, offshore structures, etc.
Why are underwater inspections in ports important?
Underwater inspections are essential to ensure the safety and proper functioning of port infrastructures. Many of the elements of a port are underwater and, without regular inspections, their deterioration may go unnoticed until they cause serious failures or costly repairs.
Early detection of anomalies such as cracks, sedimentation, corrosion, fissures and other damage prevents them from developing into more serious problems. Identifying such damage early reduces the risk of accidents and prolongs the service life of structures.
In addition, underwater inspections facilitate efficient maintenance planning by providing information on the condition of infrastructures. This makes it possible to optimise resources and minimise downtime.
Why are ROVs and machine vision a good support for divers?
At EONSEA we advocate that ROVs and AI complement human work without replacing it. The last few years have seen an important professional transition, with more and more commercial divers being trained as ROV pilots. ROVs, together with machine vision, are a good support for the divers because they allow safer and more accurate inspections.
ROVs can operate for long periods and access areas that are difficult to access or have adverse conditions, such as low visibility or strong currents. This technology reduces the diver's exposure to risk and allows the diver to focus on tasks that require human activity.
Computer vision, applied to the analysis of images and data obtained during the inspection, helps to identify potential anomalies more quickly. Thanks to this tool, divers and technical teams can make better informed decisions and prioritise the areas that require more attention.
In essence, technology brings safety and accuracy to data analysis, while divers perform the indispensable work that only experience and human judgement can accomplish.