1.  Introduction

Guided by the strategy of building China into a country with strong transportation network and building China Classification Society into a world class society, CCS actively promotes research on application of strategic, cutting-edge and forward-looking ship survey technologies and equipment, actively advances the integration of new technologies and new equipment with traditional ship survey modes, and facilitates the upgrade of R&D and application of survey technologies. Several achievements have been made in R&D and application of intelligent Unmanned Aerial Vehicles for ship survey and development of relevant standards, 5G+ ship real-time remote survey, image recognition of hull structural defects etc.

2.   Achievements

(1) Intelligent Unmanned Aerial Vehicles for ship survey and relevant standards

1)  Intelligent Unmanned Aerial Vehicles for ship survey were successfully developed in 2019. Aiming at the complex environment of ship compartments, such UAVs are characterized by intelligent sensing of obstacles and autonomous obstacle avoidance, hovering with enhanced stability, real-time transmission of ultra-high-definition images, and ultra-long endurance in the environment of no satellite signal, no light, and strong electromagnetic interference. Such type of UAVs has been used in the survey of several large oil tankers, chemical tankers and ore carriers, which has innovated the traditional survey mode, with significant effects in reducing survey costs, improving survey efficiency, and reducing the risk of high-altitude operations.

2)   The Guidelines for Use of Unmanned Aerial Vehicles for Surveys were released in 2018, containing guidance in terms of technical standards for Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs), qualification of organizations/personnel performing UAV inspection, collection of data and information, survey plan, risk assessment, application in on-site survey etc.

3)   Approval requirements for service supplier performing UAV inspection were incorporated into the Guidelines for Management of Approval of Suppliers and Personnel Qualification in 2018, which specifies detailed requirements for personnel qualification, equipment performance, verifications etc. with regard to firms performing UAV inspection as an alternative method to close-up survey of the structure of ships and mobile offshore units.

Photo of UAV working

Hull structure photo taken by UAV

(2) 5G+ ship real-time remote survey solution

To ensure the quality of ship survey and transportation safety, 5G+ ship real-time remote survey is proposed in order to meet the ever-increasing demand for remote ship survey due to the prevention and control of the COVID-19 pandemic, which will require "non-contact" ship survey and implementation of relevant international conventions and regulations in the post-pandemic era.

This solution provides a network environment with high bandwidth, high interference immunity and strong transmission stability required for remote ship survey, and realizes the real-time transmission of high-definition audio and video signals in enclosed spaces of ships. Due consideration is given to the difference between the remote survey and survey performed on board the ship. Scenario-based remote survey modes were proposed in an innovative manner, survey script was developed in accordance with the scenarios, and remote survey operational manual was developed to ensure the quality and efficiency of remote survey.

Research achievements have been verified in the survey of several container ships, ore carriers and yachts with satisfactory outcome.

Photo of ship real-time remote survey

Video picture of real-time remote survey

Video picture of real-time remote survey

(3)  Image recognition of hull structural defects

Based on research on application of image recognition technology in typical hull structure and defect recognition, CCS has developed the hull structure image data set standards and some target detection algorithm models, a sample library of hull structure typical nodes and typical defects has also been initially established.

Example of identification of toe end structure

Example of identification of longitudinals penetration structure

Contact details:

Science & Technology Innovation and Test Center of China Classification Society

T: +86 10 5811 2072            

E: si@ccs.org.cn