Safety first
RIT removes the need for people to physically enter confined and enclosed spaces — a leading source of serious maritime injuries and fatalities.
ABS Recognized Service Supplier
No staging. No scaffolding. No entry.
ABS-recognized remote inspection — ultrasonic thickness testing and hull gauging for confined and enclosed marine spaces.
Novatrace flies a collision-tolerant drone into ships' tanks, holds, and structural compartments — capturing high-resolution visual, 3D LiDAR, and ultrasonic thickness data to support classification-society survey, without sending people into dangerous spaces.
- No confined-space entry required
- Supports class survey credit
- Crewed by experienced maritime professionals
Collision-tolerant UAV
Visual · 3D LiDAR · Ultrasonic thickness
See it in action
Remote inspection from the inside
Watch a confined-space drone inspection — no scaffolding, no rope access, no human entry.
Why Novatrace
Safer, faster, lower-cost internal inspection
Confined and enclosed spaces are a leading source of serious maritime injuries. Remote Inspection Technique (RIT) lets the drone go in instead of a person — and captures more accurate, more comprehensive data than traditional hull gauging.
No scaffolding or rope access
For many internal surveys, RIT eliminates staging and rope-access setup, enabling faster turnarounds at lower cost.
Built for class credit
Data and reporting are designed to support classification-society survey credit — not just informal inspection — subject to the attending surveyor and class rules.
Deep maritime expertise
Our team includes licensed mariners and NFPA Certified Marine Chemists with deep, hands-on maritime experience — we understand ship structure, survey requirements, and confined-space safety, not just drones.
Integrated quality + safety system
An integrated QMS/SMS aligned with ISO and IACS/ABS requirements governs procedures, work instructions, and deliverables.
What we do
Inspection services
Five core services spanning visual inspection, survey support, thickness measurement, 3D capture, and reporting.
ABS-recognized
Confined & Enclosed-Space RIT Inspection
We fly a collision-resilient drone into tanks and holds so people don’t have to enter them.
Visual inspection of ballast tanks, cargo holds, void spaces, cofferdams, and similar compartments using a collision-resilient UAV — with no human entry required. Remote Inspection Technique (RIT) provides an alternative means of access to spaces that would otherwise demand staging, rope access, or confined-space entry. Performed as an ABS Recognized Service Supplier.
- No human entry into hazardous confined spaces
- Collision-resilient UAV reaches difficult internal structure
- High-resolution visual coverage of the compartment
ABS-recognized
RIT Close-Up Survey
Close-range survey of structure that supports classification-society survey.
Close-up visual survey of structure, providing an alternative means of access for classification-society review. Conducted in accordance with applicable class guidance, RIT close-up survey supports survey credit — with final credit determined by the attending surveyor under class rules. Performed as an ABS Recognized Service Supplier.
- Close-range imaging of internal structural members
- Supports classification-society survey credit
- Performed per applicable class RIT guidance
ABS-recognized
Hull Gauging / Ultrasonic Thickness Measurement
We measure how much steel is left in the structure to assess corrosion and wear.
Ultrasonic thickness measurement (UT) of hull and structural steel to assess remaining thickness — including in support of the Enhanced Survey Programme (ESP) and other class surveys. Readings are location-tagged, recorded, and reported to support condition assessment and survey. Performed as an ABS Recognized Service Supplier.
- Accurate ultrasonic thickness (UT) measurement to ±0.1 mm
- Supports Enhanced Survey Programme (ESP) requirements
- Recorded thickness data for owner and class review
3D LiDAR Point-Cloud Capture
Dense 3D scans of the inside of a space — a navigable digital twin.
Dimensional 3D LiDAR scanning of internal structure produces dense point clouds for condition assessment, documentation, and downstream analysis — a measurable, revisitable digital twin of the space rather than photos alone.
- Dense 3D point clouds of internal structure
- Navigable digital twin for analysis and documentation
- Revisitable baseline for condition monitoring
Inspection Reporting & Data Deliverables
Clear, organized reports and data packages owners and surveyors can rely on.
Processed imagery, point clouds, thickness records, and formatted reports suitable for owner and classification review. Visual and UT findings are combined with 3D model files and produced under the company’s integrated quality and safety management system.
- Combined visual + UT inspection report
- 3D model files (LAZ / LAS / E57)
- Produced under an integrated QMS/SMS
The safety case
The drone goes in, so your people don't
Inspecting a ballast tank or cargo hold traditionally means erecting staging, rigging rope access, or sending a person into a confined space. RIT removes that exposure for many internal surveys.
- Plan & ventilate — the space is prepared and assessed per safety procedure.
- Fly the inspection — a collision-tolerant UAV captures visual, 3D, and thickness data.
- Process & report — data is reviewed and formatted for owner and class.
Who we serve
Industries
Marine
Ship owners, operators, and managers needing internal structural inspection, hull gauging, and survey support — without taking compartments out of service for staging or rope access.
Offshore
Offshore structures and units requiring confined-space inspection of internal compartments and structural members.
Classification Support
An ABS Recognized Service Supplier working primarily with ABS to support class surveys with RIT close-up survey and thickness-measurement data.
Defense & Government
Naval and government vessels need the same confined-space structural inspection, hull gauging, and survey support — a market Novatrace’s capabilities apply directly to.
Standards & quality
Built to recognized maritime standards
An ABS Recognized Service Supplier for remote inspection, operating to the standards that govern survey — with ISO certification in progress.
- Recognized ABS Service Supplier Recognition (IACS UR Z17)
- In progress ISO 9001:2015 — Quality Management
- In progress ISO 45001:2018 — Occupational Health & Safety
ABS Service Supplier Recognition is granted; ISO 9001 and ISO 45001 are in progress. See Compliance & Standards for how our work maps to IACS and ABS requirements.
FAQ
Common questions
Everything you need to know before requesting an inspection.
What is Remote Inspection Technique (RIT)?
RIT is the use of a remotely operated drone as an alternative means of access for inspection and survey inside confined and enclosed spaces — ballast tanks, cargo holds, void spaces, cofferdams, and similar compartments. Instead of erecting staging or rigging rope access to put a person inside, the drone flies in and captures the data. Classification societies including ABS recognise RIT as an accepted means of access for certain surveys.
Does an RIT inspection qualify for classification-society survey credit?
RIT close-up survey and hull gauging performed by an ABS Recognized Service Supplier can support classification-society survey credit, with final credit determined by the attending surveyor under applicable class rules. Novatrace is an ABS Recognized Service Supplier for RIT, UT, and hull gauging — our data and reporting are produced to support that credit, not just internal review.
What types of spaces can you inspect?
We inspect confined and enclosed spaces aboard ships and offshore structures — ballast tanks, cargo holds, void spaces, cofferdams, chain lockers, and similar internal compartments. All operations are indoor and confined-space; we do not conduct outdoor or open-air flight operations.
Is human entry completely eliminated?
For many inspections, yes — the drone performs the survey without anyone entering the space. Where the space still needs to be prepared and assessed for safety before flight, that work follows standard confined-space procedures. RIT reduces confined-space entry significantly; what it removes depends on the specific scope and space.
What deliverables do we receive after an inspection?
A combined inspection report covering visual and ultrasonic thickness (UT) findings, location-tagged imagery, 3D point-cloud model files (LAZ / LAS / E57), and recorded A-scans for every UT reading — all produced under our integrated quality and safety management system. The data package is formatted for owner and classification review.
What does "collision-tolerant" mean?
The drone is designed to absorb contact with surfaces and keep flying, rather than avoiding all contact. A rigid protective cage surrounds the aircraft, so it can brush a frame, stringer, or bulkhead and continue the inspection. This is what makes it practical inside the tight, cluttered structure of a real ship's tank or hold.
How large a crew do you need aboard?
A two-person crew is standard for a Novatrace inspection — a pilot and an observer/data monitor. No staging crew, no rope-access team, and no large entry party.
Do you work with classification societies other than ABS?
Our current Service Supplier Recognition is with ABS. For vessels classed with other societies, RIT may still be applicable — contact us to discuss the specific vessel and survey scope.
Keep your people out of confined spaces
Talk to our team about remote inspection of your tanks, holds, and internal structure.