Deployment scenario · Ports & marine construction · Example configuration
Example scenario Ports & Marine Construction — quay wall and dolphin inspection
A port operator wishes to document the condition of several dolphins and a quay wall section — as the basis for maintenance planning or a recurring structural inspection. That calls for a robust condition survey — not merely a verbal impression, but a data basis that can be compared with later inspections.
Conventional diver operations reach their limits here: they are logistically costly and often result in a verbal protocol that can hardly be reconciled systematically with earlier or future findings. For the example configuration presented here, an ROV inspection with HD camera and lighting was therefore set as the basis for further maintenance planning.
Methodology & approach
The inspection is carried out with an ROV equipped with an HD camera and an additional lighting system. The three dolphins and the approximately 120 m long quay wall section are traversed systematically along a route defined in advance, with the run recorded on video.
At conspicuous locations — damage locations, biofouling zones and joints — additional stills are captured in a targeted manner. Harbour operations usually continue during the inspection: missions of this kind are carried out during ongoing harbour or facility operation.
For an asset of this scope, the field work is typically completed within one day, depending on current and visibility conditions on site — a quay wall section of 100–150 m is generally regarded as manageable in a single deployment day. Should visibility be restricted by turbid water, the optical capture can be complemented by sonar; this need is assessed in advance during mission planning. Dive logistics can be reduced or partly replaced in a mission of this kind, depending on the task.
Result & handover
A structured findings report is produced from the raw data captured. It links the documented anomalies to the corresponding image references, assigns them to a damage classification and derives from this a recommended action for further maintenance planning.
Handover to the planning engineering office takes place within a few working days, with the exact time frame depending on the scope of preparation. This provides a comparable, audit-grade basis that can also serve as a reference for a later follow-up inspection along the same route.
Deliverables: HD video of the inspection run · selected stills (approx. 100–200, depending on scope) · damage classification table · findings report (PDF) · method protocol with route for the follow-up inspection.
Frequently asked questions
Is this scenario a real customer project?
No. The scenarios shown here are illustrative example configurations that demonstrate typical project flows, deliverables and documentation logic. Concrete scope, durations and outcomes are determined for every project based on the actual conditions.
How long does a mission of this scope take?
In this example — 3 dolphins and approx. 120 m of quay wall — the field work is scheduled for around one day, depending on current and visibility conditions. This matches general experience, according to which a quay wall section of 100–150 m can usually be covered in a single deployment day; preparation of the findings report then follows within a few working days.
Does harbour operation have to be interrupted during the inspection?
In most cases, no. ROV inspections are carried out during ongoing harbour or facility operation — in this scenario too, an operational shutdown is usually not required.
What happens if visibility on site is restricted?
At visibilities below 30 cm, the optical capture is complemented by sonar. Whether this is necessary in a specific case is assessed during mission planning on the basis of the actual water conditions.
Does the ROV inspection fully replace the diver?
Not necessarily in full — depending on the task, dive logistics can be reduced or partly replaced. A detailed method comparison can be found under ROV vs. Diver.
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