Hull Plating
Inspect the underwater hull surface for visible corrosion, dents, cracks, deformation, impact damage and coating deterioration.
INDUS ROV · Key Application
INDUS Underwater ROV for Ship Hull Inspection
Real-time underwater inspection of hulls, propellers, rudders, sea chests and fittings - while the vessel stays afloat.
Overview
Underwater Ship Hull Inspection with INDUS ROV
INDUS ROV inspects ship hulls, propellers, rudders, sea chests and underwater fittings while the vessel stays afloat. Operators see live 4K video from the surface and record time-stamped evidence, which helps plan cleaning, repair or dry-docking without sending divers in for every routine check.
Routine underwater hull inspection is essential for identifying damage, corrosion, coating deterioration, biofouling and defects in propulsion or steering components. These inspections help shipowners maintain vessel safety, plan maintenance, minimise avoidable downtime and support compliance with applicable flag-state and classification requirements.
The INDUS Underwater ROV, developed by Benzz Technologies Private Limited, provides real-time underwater inspection of ships and marine vessels without requiring dry-docking for every preliminary or routine visual assessment. Operated from the surface, INDUS captures high-resolution visual evidence from submerged areas that are difficult, dangerous or time-consuming for divers to access.
Deployment
Designed for Indian Maritime Operations
INDUS can support hull inspections across the full range of Indian maritime infrastructure.
- Indian ports
- Shipyards and dry docks
- Naval and Coast Guard facilities
- Commercial harbours and anchorages
- Inland waterways and river ports
- Offshore support bases
- Fishing harbours and marinas
- Coastal terminals and jetties
It can be deployed for merchant vessels, naval vessels, Coast Guard ships, offshore support vessels, fishing boats, research vessels, passenger vessels, tugs, barges and other floating assets.
Scope of Inspection
What INDUS Can Inspect
Propeller and Propulsion Components
Examine propeller blades, hubs and other visible propulsion components for blade damage, entangled ropes, fishing nets, fouling and foreign objects.
Rudder and Steering Areas
Inspect the rudder surface, stock area, hinges, pintles and visible clearances for damage, corrosion, fouling or abnormal conditions.
Sea Chests and Gratings
Check sea-chest gratings, cooling-water intake openings and discharge outlets for obstruction, damage, marine growth and accumulated debris.
Anti-Fouling Coating
Document visible coating breakdown, peeling, abrasion and areas affected by corrosion or marine-organism attachment.
Thrusters and Stabilizers
Inspect bow thrusters, stern thrusters, tunnel openings, stabilizer fins and other underwater appendages.
Keel and Bilge Areas
Assess the keel, bilge keels and lower hull for grounding damage, deformation and coating deterioration.
Anodes and Underwater Fittings
Observe the general condition of sacrificial anodes, drain plugs, sensors and other externally accessible underwater fittings.
Operational Value
Key Operational Benefits
Improved personnel safety
Reduces unnecessary diver exposure during preliminary and routine visual inspections.
Rapid deployment
Can be operated from a quay, jetty, small boat or suitable vessel deck.
Reduced vessel downtime
Supports inspections while the vessel remains afloat, subject to operational and port permissions.
Early defect detection
Helps identify damage before it develops into a more serious maintenance issue.
Better maintenance planning
Provides visual evidence for planning cleaning, repair, diver intervention or dry-docking.
Inspection in confined areas
Enables examination of sea chests, thruster tunnels and other difficult-to-access locations.
Low-visibility operation
Lighting and optional imaging sonar support inspections in turbid port and harbour waters.
Traceable records
Produces time-stamped images and video for technical review and comparison.
Reduced inspection costs
Suitable for regular condition monitoring between scheduled class or docking surveys.
Use Cases
Typical Applications
- Pre-docking and post-docking inspection
- Routine hull-condition monitoring
- Pre-purchase vessel inspection support
- Post-grounding and collision assessment
- Propeller and rudder damage inspection
- Rope, fishing-net and debris detection
- Biofouling assessment before hull cleaning
- Anti-fouling coating inspection
- Sea-chest blockage investigation
- Port-state or terminal-requested visual checks
- Underwater security and foreign-object inspection
- Post-repair verification
- Inspection before long-distance voyages
- Investigation of abnormal vibration or reduced performance
Method
Hull Inspection Workflow
- Review vessel drawings and inspection objectives.
- Conduct a risk assessment and obtain required port or vessel permissions.
- Confirm that propellers, thrusters, intakes and other hazardous machinery are isolated.
- Divide the hull into clearly defined inspection zones.
- Deploy INDUS from the quay, boat or vessel deck.
- Inspect the hull using a systematic route from bow to stern.
- Record video, photographs and observations of visible defects.
- Mark relevant locations using hull references and available positioning data.
- Classify observations for monitoring, cleaning, repair or further examination.
- Prepare an inspection report with supporting images and recommended follow-up actions.
Regular inspection is especially useful for identifying biofouling and planning cleaning, because marine growth can affect vessel performance and operating cost. INDUS ROV inspections can support condition assessment and maintenance decisions. Statutory or classification surveys must be conducted under the applicable flag-state and classification-society approval requirements.