In-water ship hull inspection has been practiced for years.
It can be a very useful means to inspect the condition of anti-fouling systems and the biofouling status of a ship. In-water inspections should be undertaken periodically as a general means of routine surveillance, augmented by specific inspections as necessary to address any situations of elevated risk.
Nereus Subsea, one of the leading ship repair companies in Dubai, has been providing In-Water hull inspection and Hull Cleaning services at Singapore, Malaysia & Sri Lanka.
Periodic In-Water inspections of hull should be on the top priority for following reasons:
- To monitor Safety of the Ship:
Seaworthiness of the vessels shall be maintained with no defects, leaks, cracks, distortions, fractures or similar defects which may compromise safety of ship and crew. Periodical In-Water Hull inspection is the most appropriate way to ensure the safety of the ship and crew.
- To monitor condition of Ship Hull Paint :
Ship hulls are painted with very expensive anti-fouling paints which are able to withstand various ocean environments and bio-fouling organisms. Periodic In-Water hull inspection is highly recommended to verify the condition of the hull paint and also to plan for any localised areas of paintwork which can be easily refreshed before the vessel hull further degrades and requires more significant , costly dry docking and vessel downtime.
- To eliminate and control invasive species:
Invasive species are a point of concern as they affect the environmental activities and also increase hull resistance thereby reducing vessel speed which adds up to increased fuel usage.
Despite the use of effective anti-fouling systems and operational practices, undesirable amounts of bio fouling may still accumulate during the intended lifetime of the anti-fouling system. To maintain a ship as free of bio fouling as practical, it may be advisable for the ship to undertake in-water inspection, cleaning and maintenance.
Contact Nereus Subsea for the expert marine services in UAE.
Recommended occasions when an in-water inspection may be appropriate :
- Before and After any planned period of inactivity or significant or unforeseen change to the ship’s operating profile.
- Prior to undertaking in-water cleaning to determine the presence of known or suspected invasive aquatic species or other species of concern on the ship.
- After a known or suspected marine pest or other species of concern is discovered in a ship’s internal seawater cooling systems.
- Following damage to the ship’s hull due to any incident such as grounding, contact, collision etc.