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T H E M A G A Z I N E F O R T H E U K O F F S H O R E O I L A N D G A S I N D U S T R Y
CYBERHAWK REDUCES THE TIME
AND COST OF INTERNAL TANK
INSPECTIONS
Cyberhawk Innovations has improved the safety, time
and cost of inspecting cargo oil tanks on operational
floating, production, storage and offloading (FPSO)
vessels using remotely operated aerial vehicles (ROAVs).
Maersk Oil, which owns and operates the Gryphon
FPSO on the UK Continental Shelf, traditionally
inspected the cargo tanks for integrity, damage
assessment and class certification using technicians who
were suspended on ropes. They focussed on areas of
high stress such as stiffeners, brackets, bracing, webs
and stringers.
But carrying out a visual non-contact inspection of the
tank using Cyberhawk’s ROAV brought benefits.
Cyberhawk mobilised an experienced two-man
ROAV team comprising a pilot and
inspection engineer.
Human risk factors presented by rope access, such as
working at height for sustained periods and in confined
spaces, were reduced, while the inspection of critical
components was completed within a day, in comparison
with rope access that usually takes between three and four
days. As a result, there were significant cost savings and
Maersk Oil can identify and more efficiently plan for any
subsequent contact-based inspections that are required.
This inspection technique can be applied to all large
internal tanks on FPSOs, as well as bulk carriers
and tankers.
Malcolm Connolly, Cyberhawk’s technical director and
founder, says: “Not only have we removed one of the
most significant risks associated with tank inspection
– working at height – but we have also highlighted the
significant cost and time savings that can be achieved by
ROAV inspection.”
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EFFICIENCY