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# The Elios 3 UT Payload: Revolutionizing Hull Inspections and Saving Thousands of Work Hours
## Key Benefits at a Glance
| Feature | Description |
|------------------|-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| **Safety** | The Elios 3 eliminates the need for scaffolding, work at height, and entry into confined spaces, significantly reducing the risks associated with ship hull or tank inspections. |
| **Speed** | Deployed within just 30 minutes of arrival on-site, the Elios 3 dramatically cuts down on the time spent setting up scaffolding, drastically reducing the total hours required for inspections. |
| **Localization** | The Elios 3’s UT drone survey results are displayed within a 3D model, making it easier to identify and revisit points of interest for further analysis or maintenance work. |
| **Reporting** | C-Bird successfully completed the UTM and close-up survey needed for the ship's 5-year periodic survey. Their data was certified by a class society, showcasing the reliability of drone-based inspections. |
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Every vessel must undergo a thorough inspection every five years, with more frequent checks for older ships. After a ship reaches 15 years of age, these inspections occur every 30 months. These inspections are crucial for certifying a ship's operational safety and can be extremely expensive, with ships often idling in dry docks for weeks. During these inspections, the ship’s hull must be examined using ultrasonic thickness (UT) measurements to ensure structural integrity, along with visual assessments of specific areas. Focus is placed on the midship section, which experiences the most pressure when the ship is at sea. These inspections are essential for spotting issues that might not be visible to the naked eye or concealed within the ship's structure. Combining UT measurements with visual inspections ensures inspectors can trust their findings and adhere to industry standards.
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## Traditional UT Inspections on Ships
In the past, accessing UT inspection points and taking measurements typically required hundreds of man-hours. Teams of up to 30 people had to assemble scaffolding before a UT inspector could climb and take measurements. Erecting scaffolding posed risks to inspectors working at heights and could endanger the ship itself—leftover pieces could get sucked into the tank’s pumps, damaging them and necessitating costly drydock repairs.
The inspection process for cargo tanks inside ships generally takes several days and requires special permits for work at height or in confined spaces. Additionally, ships must be in dry dock during inspections. Dry dock charges by the day, so the costs associated with slower inspection methods are significant. Faster inspection methods, like those offered by the Elios 3 UT drone, provide an attractive alternative while still delivering critical data.
Building scaffolding for surveying a 15-year-old tanker can cost anywhere from $300,000 to $700,000. The ship may be out of commission for 40 to 60 days, with dry dock fees reaching between $4 and $6 million, including further inspection and maintenance work. Using a drone to eliminate scaffolding not only improves safety but also drastically reduces costs.
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## How UT Drone Inspections Benefit the Maritime Industry
C-Bird, a specialized ship inspection company, frequently employs the Elios 3 for UT inspections on vessels over 15 years old. CEO Malcolm Connolly and his team chose the Elios 3 for its ability to perform detailed LiDAR mapping and visual inspections. Visual documentation is critical for periodic surveys, requiring inspectors to capture images from arm’s length. The Elios 3 gathers this visual data efficiently without requiring inspectors to climb scaffolding or work in confined spaces. As a Flyability product advisor and beta-tester for the new UT payload, Malcolm saw this as the perfect opportunity to evaluate the drone’s performance in a typical NDT environment while completing the ship’s visual inspection.
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## Performing a Ship UT Inspection with the Elios 3
Rather than relying on traditional labor-intensive methods, C-Bird used the UT probe with two Elios drones to inspect the 12 oil tanks aboard a medium-sized ship. The inspection was guided by a class inspector who specified the areas to be tested. This drone-based inspection method was far quicker than the scaffolding approach; once onboard, the UT inspection could start immediately—a significant improvement compared to the thousands of hours typically associated with scaffolding. C-Bird flew the Elios 3 UT drone around each tank, taking measurements in various locations as per the inspection plan and any additional areas requested by the class surveyor. Both UT and visual inspections were completed within seven days. At the end of the flights, the pilots confirmed with the class inspector that the Elios 3’s spot measurements matched the required number and location.
The Elios 3 streamlined the visual inspections needed for this process. The drone allowed pilots to collect both visual and UT data during the flights, offering a close-up view of the surveyed areas at the required distance. This enabled C-Bird to gather the necessary information twice as fast, with one drone focusing on visual inspections and the other on UT measurements. The results included a clear visual display of the points of interest along with the UT spot measurements.
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## Certified Results from Elios 3 UT Ship Inspections
After two years of successful pilot projects, C-Bird and their Elios 3 UT payload earned certification from the American Bureau of Shipping (ABS), a leading class society, as an approved recognized service supplier for ESP hull gauging (Enhanced Survey Program). This certification marked the first of its kind, underscoring the value of C-Bird’s achievements with drone inspections.
Watch the Elios 3 use its live 3D model to guide the drone and make a UT measurement, marking it as a point of interest for reporting:
[](http://bsg-i.nbxc.com/blog/...)
The Elios 3 provided C-Bird with five key benefits. First, the team could easily localize UT spot measurements within a clear point cloud. Second, the inspector could access the entire space safely, avoiding scaffolding risks. Third, the drone delivered reliable results certified by the class inspector. Fourth, the Elios 3’s versatility allows it to serve as a comprehensive inspection tool adaptable to various environments with relevant payloads. Lastly, C-Bird delivered detailed reports matching the required format for the class society, proving the drone’s value beyond UT inspections.
C-Bird plans to continue using the Elios 3 and UT payload for visual and ultrasonic thickness inspections across multiple industries, from maritime to oil and gas to asset management. Their comprehensive results differentiate them from competitors and traditional methods, thanks to increased speed, safety, and data quality. This approach has opened a new chapter for confined space and challenging UT inspections—and C-Bird is excited to deploy the Elios 3 in innovative projects.
Discover more about the Elios 3 and its UT payload today!
June 08, 2025