Seatrade Maritime is part of the Informa Markets Division of Informa PLC

This site is operated by a business or businesses owned by Informa PLC and all copyright resides with them. Informa PLC's registered office is 5 Howick Place, London SW1P 1WG. Registered in England and Wales. Number 8860726.

RIMS adds to class society drone use approvals with ClassNK nod

114775b1b0049d519af13e0017c36d29
High-tech a global project and maintenance consultancy RIMS (Robotics In Maintenance Strategies) got a boost as they seek to push forward the practical integration of drone technology in maritime surveying sphere with approval for the use of Remote Inspection Techniques (drones) during surveys of enclosed spaces from ClassNK.

This adds to RIMS’ string of endorsements. Over the past 12 months RIMS have successfully secured class approvals from major class societies Bureau Veritas, Lloyd’s Register, ABS, RINA, KRS and the most recent approval from ClassNK adds to this growing list.

The certification for the use of Remote Inspection Techniques (drones) during surveys of enclosed spaces from these classification societies opens the option of drone use to more shipowners and managers for inspections.

The use of drones during surveys enables remote live on-screen object inspection, which can result in the elimination of the use of costly access equipment such as scaffolding and cherry pickers. The technology used in this way in turn then offers additional substantial benefits to shipowners and managers such as; reduction in the time to carry out a survey, minimising of risk, as well as cost savings.

Read More: Expansion of e-certs for Singapore-registered ships, drone survey criteria under development

RIMS ceo David Knukkel said: “We want to ensure we can offer our services as an option to all, and we shall continue to put our efforts into obtaining further class approval to ensure this is the case.”

He concluded: “Our journey and the future of the technology is looking promising and we are really seeing a positive shift which these class approvals only enhance further. The benefits of the drone technology are vast, and we will continue in our mission to demonstrate what these benefits are to the maritime industry.”