SPECIAL REPORT: TECH TRENDSThe Drones are ComingNimble and quick, unmanned aerial vehicles have evolved into a valuable tool for marine and offshore applications.By Jim Romeohen a U.S. oil tanker conducts a Critical Area a day. Not all personnel have to be lowered into the tank. Inspection Plan (CAIP) as required by ABS, it is There’s no risk of items being dropped (and/or lost) in the Wan onerous process. For example, each tank re- tank, and the drone can easily go where it might be otherwise quires seven days of set up with scaffolding and staging. An dif? cult and dangerous for humans to survey within the tank. ABS inspector and UDT technicians must access, and be carefully lowered into the tank with instrumentation and Drones for Maritime Applicationstools. Inspection points in far reaching places are surveyed. Drones have arrived. Using a remote-controlled un-Carried out in the traditional fashion, it can be a dif? cult, manned aerial vehicle (UAV) or drone, infrastructure in-dangerous, time consuming and expensive procedure. spections may be conducted easier, better and with less Now, the same tanker is using drones to perform much of this function. A drone inspection can be conducted in about Credit: DNV GLOctober 2018 MN36MN Oct18 Layout 32-49.indd 36 MN Oct18 Layout 32-49.indd 36 9/20/2018 10:53:51 AM9/20/2018 10:53:51 AM