Underwater Drone Inspections
What is an underwater inspection?
What is the deepest an underwater drone can go?
For years, utility companies and local authorities have relied on divers and staff in waders to inspect bridges, tanks and similar structures. This practice of placing personnel in hazardous situations is no longer necessary. With submersible ROVs capable of reaching depths between 150m – 200m, we can now conduct thorough inspections whilst keeping our workforce safely above water.
Underwater Drone Inspection Advantages:
Safety Benefits:
- Eliminates human diving risks (cold water exposure, decompression sickness, drowning hazards)
- Allows inspection of hazardous environments (contaminated water, extreme depths, confined spaces)
- Can operate in zero visibility conditions with sonar technology
- Enables inspection of structurally compromised areas without risk to personnel
Cost Efficiency:
- Reduces operational costs compared to traditional diving teams
- There is no need for decompression time or specialized diving support vessels
- Quicker deployment and inspection completion
- Lower insurance costs due to reduced human risk
- Minimal equipment setup time compared to diving operations
Enhanced Inspection Capabilities:
- Can operate continuously for extended periods (not limited by diver fatigue)
- Able to reach greater depths than human divers
- Equipped with high-resolution cameras and advanced sensors
- A stable platform for consistent imaging and measurements
- Can access confined spaces too dangerous for human entry
- Records comprehensive digital documentation for analysis
Operational Advantages:
- No diving certification or specialized training requirements
- All-weather operation capability
- Can be deployed rapidly in emergencies
- Provides real-time video feed for immediate decision-making
- Multiple stakeholders can view the inspection simultaneously
- Creates detailed digital records for compliance and planning
Environmental Benefits:
- Minimizes disruption to marine ecosystems
- Reduces carbon footprint compared to dive team operations
- No decompression gases are released into the water
- Lower noise pollution compared to traditional inspection methods
Quality and Consistency:
- Standardized inspection procedures
- Reproducible results for monitoring changes over time
- High-quality digital documentation
- Ability to revisit exact locations for follow-up inspections
Large water storage and sprinkler tanks require regular inspections to ensure reliable operation, often mandated by insurance policies. Traditional inspection methods involving draining, manual inspection, and refilling can take weeks, making them impractical for most facilities.
Critical fire suppression systems depend on vast water reserves available around the clock. Taking these tanks offline for extended periods isn’t feasible, as it can trigger plant shutdowns, halt production, and cause significant reputational damage.
Our advanced underwater drone inspections provide a solution by thoroughly examining these tanks while they remain operational. Using cutting-edge ROV technology, we deliver comprehensive digital inspection data through our online portal within hours of completion.
We collaborate with industry specialists who analyse the captured data and provide detailed reports tailored to your requirements, ensuring you maintain compliance without operational disruption.