Under-keel inspection system of large vessels

Hiding illicit cargo on the outside of the hull of maritime vessels e.g. on the sea-chests, the rudder trunks or on underwater appendices is a commonly quoted method for smuggling, which can only be countered by diver inspections during the vessel port call. The invention discloses a method and a survey system for an automated hull inspection by a combination of optical and acoustic techniques of ships entering to or departing from a harbour or other protected anchorage. A linear array of inspection devices equipped with sonar and video sensors is deployed automatically around the hull’s external profile, vertically to the ship’s motion, so as to scan the submerged part of the hull and reconstruct its high-resolution 3D profile permitting the identification of any anomaly like hidden objects or hull appendices.

THE MAIN APPLICATION AREAS

• Forces fighting against smuggling and terrorism

THE MAIN INNOVATIVE ASPECTS AND ADVANTAGES

• It replaces hull inspections by divers, which are manpower intensive, expensive and dangerous.
• It performs the inspection prior to the vessel entering the port, thus avoiding eventual risks to the port in case of terrorist activities and that smugglers intervene prior to the inspection.