Marine surveyors now have a new weapon in their technical armoury - thermal imaging. Shore-based industries have long acknowledged the value of infrared thermography as an efficient tool in damage prevention and predictive maintenance. But the equipment had always been too expensive for the marine industry and too difficult to handle in confined spaces.
Following recent developments, however, marine surveyors can now use the same revolutionary technology, previously available only to the US Navy, for pre-purchase and insurance and P&I surveys, appraisal and damage inspections. The Dutch marine surveying company of BMT De Beer b.v. (BMT Surveys), with offices in Rotterdam and Antwerp, has found that the equipment allows its surveyors to scan instantly the structural integrity of any vessel, as well as electrical propulsion and fuel systems, navigation and other on-board electronics.
Jeroen de Haas, the company's managing director, comments: "Some shipowners have already acknowledged the value of thermography as a cost-saving maintenance instrument and it is the expectation that P&I clubs and hull insurers will incorporate the technology in their ship condition and risk analysis programmes within the next couple of years".
The equipment is also effective in relation to reefer transport, not only to detect hazardous fire risk spots that would otherwise probably remain unnoticed, but also to ensure that correct transit temperatures are maintained for cargoes such as bananas, deciduous fruits and citrus fruits. An infrared picture can show up temperature differences instantly.
Fuel oil piping; open and closed valves - visual and thermal images.
With thanks to BMT de Beer b.v. Rotterdam for preparing this article and supplying the images.
The text of this article has also been published in Sea Venture Issue 2, April 2005.
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