$2 Million Saved Using Elios 2 For Oil Tanker Cargo Inspection

Marine Inspection Services, Ltd helped an oil tanker manager save $2 million by using the Elios 2 for a cargo tank inspection during a time when oil tankers were in high demand and extremely profitable.

Key Benefits at a Glance

Safety Instead of sending inspectors up on scaffolding to visually inspect the inside of a cargo tank, the Elios 2 drone was used. This significantly reduced the risk of injury or exposure to hazardous conditions, making the process much safer for the crew.

ROI The use of the Elios 2 saved approximately $2 million. Building scaffolding for a manual inspection would have cost around $400,000 and taken eight extra days, which at the time equated to $1.6 million in lost revenue ($200,000 per day).

Speed The Elios 2 completed the inspection in just two days, whereas a manual inspection would have required about 10 days due to the time needed to build and dismantle scaffolding.

Introduction

In March 2020, the daily rental rate for oil tankers skyrocketed from around $25,000 USD to over $200,000 USD. This dramatic increase was driven by a shortage of available tankers and a surge in demand, especially from speculators looking to store cheap oil until prices rebounded.

The drop in oil prices due to the global impact of the pandemic led to a surge in speculative buying. Investors stored large volumes of oil on tankers, hoping to sell it later at higher prices. This created a perfect storm for the shipping industry, with tankers becoming more valuable than ever.

Customer Needs

As an oil tanker manager, maximizing uptime is crucial. In March 2020, any downtime could mean losing millions in potential revenue. That’s why when a defect was found in one of their crude oil tankers, the management company had to act fast.

A picture of the crack that was found in the cargo tank

A crack in the cargo tank could grow over time, leading to a leak. Such an event would not only require costly repairs but also result in significant downtime and environmental risks. At $200,000 per day, even a short period out of service could cost millions.

Solution

To avoid expensive dry dock time and potential revenue loss, the management company hired Marine Inspection Services Ltd, a U.K.-based inspection firm, to assess the damage using the Elios 2 drone.

The Elios 2 is designed for confined spaces and can quickly collect detailed visual data without the need for scaffolding. This made it ideal for inspecting the tank under tight time constraints.

[Related read: What is a Maritime Drone?]

Results

The Elios 2 enabled Marine Inspection Services Ltd to quickly confirm the presence of a crack and assess its extent. The drone’s directional lighting and distance lock provided clarity, mimicking the experience of an inspector on-site with a flashlight.

“The Elios 2’s directional lighting and distance lock are very good for helping to determine the extent of damage when you’re looking at a crack. The lighting simulates an inspector standing there holding a flashlight, providing depth and detail to what is being inspected.” – Simon Ruddick, Director at Marine Inspection Services Ltd

Inspectors also identified other areas where similar cracks might be present based on the vessel’s design. They found two additional cracks that could have caused future problems if left unaddressed.

This video showcases some of the key findings from the inspection:

 

Conclusion

Before this mission, Marine Inspection Services Ltd already knew the Elios 2 was a game-changer. But the success of this high-stakes inspection—where every delay meant a big financial hit—solidified its value in their operations.

“For us, Flyability’s indoor drone technology has evolved from an interesting and helpful supplemental tool to an essential part of any inspection we conduct. This mission is just one more example of how crucial the Elios 2 is to our ability to help our clients assess damage and make important decisions about the viability of continued operations.” – Simon Ruddick, Director at Marine Inspection Services Ltd

 

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