BUGWRIGHT2

Challenge

The outer hull service, inspection and maintenance is mostly done at dry dock, either manually or with a Remote Automated System. In this condition, complete hull-thickness measurements by discrete sampling account for 5-8 days of work. Similarly, hull cleaning is done at quay but typically requires 8 days of down time corresponding to an estimated loss of 100 to 200 k€. It is estimated that the use of multiple Remote Automated Systems would reduce the time of servicing to about 10 hours and would require 6 to 7 trained employees to operate all the platforms. However, despite Remote Automated Systems do exist to simplify the service processes and facilitate access, they have faced significant difficulties to enter this market, especially for activities concerning the outer hull. In addition, the robustness and reliability of these systems has not yet been demonstrated enough to convince owners and end-users of their full potential in cost and time savings.  

The objective of BUGWRIGHT2 is to bridge this gap between the current and desired capabilities of ship inspection and service robots by developing and demonstrating an adaptable autonomous robotic solution for servicing ship outer hulls.

Approach

RINA, involved as classification society will contribute to the project by providing insight on the current inspection and testing process, qualifying new technologies applied to the marine industry and improving the regulatory framework. In addition, we will oversee the evaluation and validation of the developed technologies from the end-user side, the findings from this review will drive the future system specification.

We will exploit BUGWRIGHT2 results developing guidelines, standards and rules for the certification of robotic technologies, improving confidence in technology capabilities and removing, or significantly reducing, existing barriers which still limit the adoption of these technologies.

With BUGWRIGHT2, we will gain new competences and new technical capabilities. Both will be prerequisites for the development of new classification and certification services related to the application of robotic systems. 

Conclusion

BUGWRIGHT2 will pave the way to the diffusion of autonomous robotics for operations on the outside surface of industrial structures and marine vessels, while gaining experience on the potential for further deployment of robotics. The project has economic, environmental and societal impact.  

BUGWRIGHT2 will achieve a reduction of technical and commercial risks in the deployment of services based on robotic technologies within the selected application area. It will also strengthen the profitability and competitiveness of the stakeholders involved in periodic hull inspection and cleaning. For ships at quay or at a mooring, a fast visual outside hull inspection, above and below the water surface, would be a valuable regular inspection service that shipyards and harbours could regularly offer to all their customers, in a win-win situation.  

By developing capabilities for autonomous operations on hulls, BUGWRIGHT2 also intends to make generalized hull cleaning capabilities a fast, cheap, real and effective service, with a very large potential for fuel efficiency improvement of shipping, without losing competitiveness. By improving the quality of inspection and maintenance (corrosion detection, biofouling detection, maintenance planning, reduction of drydock unforeseen costs), the project actively contributes to the safe and sustainable development of maritime transport. 

BUGWRIGHT2 is a H2020 project with Grant Agreement number 871260

Project Consortium

1. CENTRE TECHNIQUE DES INDUSTRIES MECANIQUES, France; 2. UNIVERSIDADE DO PORTO, Portugal; 3. UNIVERSITAT DE LES ILLES BALEARS, Spain; 4. INSTITUT NATIONAL DES SCIENCES APPLIQUEES DE LYON, France; 5. RHEINISCH-WESTFAELISCHE TECHNISCHE HOCHSCHULE AACHEN, Germany; 6. UNIVERSITAET KLAGENFURT, Austria; 7. NORGES TEKNISK-NATURVITENSKAPELIGE UNIVERSITET NTNU, Norway; 8. UNIVERSITAT TRIER (UT), Germany; 9. WORLD MARITIME UNIVERSITY, Sweden; 10. LAKESIDE LABS GMBH, Austria; 11. ROBOPLANET, France; 12. BLUEYE ROBOTICS AS, Norway; 13. RINA SERVICES SPA, Italy; 14. GLAFCOS MARINE EPE, Greece; 15. APDL - ADMINISTRACAO DOS PORTOS DODOURO E LEIXOES SA, Portugal; 16. ARSENAL DO ALFEITE SA, Portugal; 17. TRONDHEIM HAVN IKS, Norway; 18. IN EXTENSO INNOVATION CROISSANCE, France; 19. DANAOS SHIPPING COMPANY LIMITED, Cyprus; 20. STAR BULK SHIPMANAGEMENT CO. LTD, Cyprus.