Speaker: Steven Verver, General Manager, Terra Inspectioneering
About the presentation:
Cargo Oil Tank (COT) inspections on FPSOs are conducted every five years to satisfy Class requirements, traditionally relying on rope access for Close Visual Inspection (CVI) and Ultrasonic Thickness Measurement (UTM). This method exposes workers to confined space entry and working-at-height risks, consumes significant POB, and leaves certain structural areas - deck transverses, deck longitudinal stiffeners and flat walls - effectively inaccessible.
This webinar shares practical experiences and lessons learned from over 100 FPSO COT drone inspections. We will examine how UT drones equipped with certified thickness measurement, integrated cleaning brushes and adaptable probe arms now complete 100% of the UT, GVI and CVI scope, with measurement precision approved by Class witnesses (ABS, DNV and BV). Drawing on real inspection data, we discuss measurement accuracy, handling of poor surface conditions and scaling, reaching complex geometries, and the operational factors - particularly tank cleanliness - that drive inspection speed.
Attendees will gain a candid, field-tested view of where drone inspection delivers genuine safety and efficiency gains, and where practical limitations remain.
