Confined & Enclosed-Space RIT Inspection
We fly a collision-resilient drone into tanks and holds so people don’t have to enter them.
Service
Hull gauging and ultrasonic thickness measurement
Remote ultrasonic thickness measurement of hull and structural steel — every reading geolocated in a 3D point cloud, with the full A-scan saved so the number can be verified long after the inspection.
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.
ESP and non-ESP vessels
Thickness measurement is performed in support of the Enhanced Survey Programme (ESP) for tankers and bulk carriers, and for vessels outside that regime. Novatrace holds ABS Recognized Service Supplier status covering ESP hull gauging and hull gauging on vessels outside the ESP regime. UT is the measurement method; hull gauging is its marine application.
Why this data holds up better than spot readings
A traditional gauging campaign produces isolated spot readings, recorded by hand at a limited number of access-dependent points, with locations marked approximately on a drawing and no way to check a number once the technician leaves the steel. Every reading Novatrace takes is tagged to its exact position in the LiDAR point cloud, and the full A-scan behind it is saved — so the echo selection can be re-traced and re-verified in software later, and the identical point can be re-measured on the next survey to trend corrosion accurately.
FAQ
Hull Gauging & UT — common questions
How accurate are the thickness readings?
Ultrasonic thickness measurement to ±0.1 mm (±0.004"), or 0.1% of thickness, across a range in steel of 0.8 mm to 250 mm. Readings are taken in Single Echo (Mode 2) and Echo-to-Echo (Mode 3) and refined live during the inspection.
Do we receive the raw data or just the numbers?
Both. Every reading is delivered as a recorded A-scan alongside its value and its tagged position in the 3D point cloud, so a reviewer can confirm how a number was arrived at rather than take it on trust.
Can the same points be re-measured on a later survey?
Yes. Because each measurement is geolocated in the point cloud, the identical point can be re-measured on a future survey — which makes corrosion trending far more reliable than comparing approximate hand-marked locations between campaigns.
Is hull gauging done in the same visit as the visual inspection?
Yes. Visual coverage and ultrasonic thickness readings are captured on the same deployment into the space and reported together.
Related
Other services
Most inspections combine several of these on a single deployment into the space.
RIT Close-Up Survey
Close-range survey of structure that supports classification-society survey.
3D LiDAR Point-Cloud Capture
Dense 3D scans of the inside of a space — a navigable digital twin.
Inspection Reporting & Data Deliverables
Clear, organized reports and data packages owners and surveyors can rely on.
Keep your people out of confined spaces
Talk to our team about remote inspection of your tanks, holds, and internal structure.