🕶️ AR in Ship Inspections: Seeing Problems Before They Surface
- Davide Ramponi
- vor 4 Tagen
- 5 Min. Lesezeit
My name is Davide Ramponi, I’m 21 years old and currently training as a shipping agent in Hamburg.On my blog, I take you with me on my journey into the exciting world of shipping. I share my knowledge, my experiences, and my progress on the way to becoming an expert in the field of Sale and Purchase – the trade with ships.
Ship inspections have long been a cornerstone of safety, compliance, and operational readiness. From engine room walk-throughs to hull surveys and cargo hold assessments, the process is critical — but traditionally manual, time-consuming, and dependent on physical presence.
Now, the next wave of inspection capability is arriving — and it's not just digital, it's augmented.Welcome to the world of Augmented Reality (AR) in ship inspections. 🕶️
AR is helping engineers, inspectors, and superintendents visualize potential issues before they become real problems, transforming how we assess risk, manage maintenance, and stay compliant — all with enhanced accuracy and speed.
🔍 In this post, I’ll walk you through:
🛠️ How AR is used for shipboard maintenance and safety inspections
🌐 Enhancing remote supervision with AR-powered tools
👓 The hardware requirements and crew training considerations
🚢 Real-world examples of AR deployment at sea and in shipyards
📈 ROI insights and what scalability could look like across the fleet
Let’s dive into the bridge of the future — where reality is enhanced, and inspections are smarter than ever. 🚀
🛠️ AR Tools in Maintenance and Safety Inspections
Augmented Reality overlays digital information — like technical specs, alerts, or visual cues — on top of the real-world environment. In a maritime context, that means crew or inspectors using AR headsets, tablets, or smart glasses to:
Highlight structural weaknesses or stress points in real-time
Overlay wiring diagrams or machinery schematics on equipment
Guide users through checklists or step-by-step repair protocols
Capture and annotate photos or videos with live contextual data
Provide a “second set of eyes” via remote assistance from shore teams
🧠 Think of it as having a digital chief engineer whispering in your ear while you're inside the engine room — or a safety inspector marking areas of concern directly on your field of view.
Common AR Use Cases Onboard:
🔧 Main engine visual inspections
🧯 Fire safety system checks
🔩 Structural integrity walkthroughs (bulkheads, deck plates)
📊 Condition monitoring of critical components
📁 Real-time access to manuals and 3D equipment models
🌐 AR-Powered Remote Supervision and Collaboration
COVID-19 brought a dramatic surge in remote inspections, and AR has helped take that concept to the next level.
With AR, a technician onboard can wear smart glasses while an inspector or superintendent watches remotely — seeing exactly what the technician sees, but with the ability to annotate, highlight, and instruct in real-time.
Benefits of AR Remote Collaboration:
🕒 Save travel time and costs for shore-based surveyors
🧠 Tap into expert support instantly — regardless of location
📸 Record sessions with live annotations and commentary
🔄 Reduce scheduling delays between port calls and inspections
📍 Use Case: A class society surveyor in Oslo guides an onboard engineer in Singapore through a ballast water system check — without stepping onto the vessel.
👓 Hardware & Training: What’s Needed?
While AR is powerful, it does require the right setup — both in terms of hardware and crew readiness.
Popular AR Hardware for Maritime Use:
Training Considerations:
🧑🏫 Intro sessions on AR device handling and safety
📋 Familiarity with checklists and virtual interfaces
🧠 Guidance on what to look for during AR-assisted inspections
🔄 Refreshers as software updates roll out
⚙️ Pro tip: Integrate AR training into existing safety and technical training programs to reduce resistance and learning curves.
🚢 Real-World AR Implementation Stories
⚓ Case 1: Shell Shipping – AR for Equipment Maintenance
Shell Shipping & Maritime has deployed AR headsets for onboard engineers performing routine maintenance on fuel pumps and purifiers.
Results:
Cut inspection times by 30%
Reduced error rates in checklist execution
Enabled remote troubleshooting from technical HQ
⚓ Case 2: Bureau Veritas – AR Surveys in Action
Bureau Veritas piloted AR-assisted class surveys on tankers during port calls.
Used smart glasses to stream inspections live to surveyors ashore
Enabled digital checklists and voice-guided annotations
Delivered survey completion certificates within hours
📜 Impact: Faster turnarounds and reduced inspector travel during COVID restrictions — a model now expanding fleet-wide.
⚓ Case 3: Hyundai Heavy Industries – AR in Shipbuilding QC
HHI is using AR in its shipyards for quality control in newbuilds.
Technicians wear AR glasses to compare real welds and installations with 3D design models
Non-conformities are flagged and tagged in real-time
QC reports are generated instantly, accelerating the handover process
📈 ROI and Scalability: What’s the Payoff?
Let’s look at the economic and operational upside of AR in inspections.
Additional Benefits:
📂 Higher-quality documentation and traceability
🧠 Knowledge transfer from experienced staff to newer crew
🔄 Fewer repeat inspections due to better first-time accuracy
🔐 Enhanced compliance with digital audit trails
📊 Bottom line: AR brings a measurable boost to both performance and compliance — at a fleet and organizational level.
🔮 What’s Next for AR in Maritime?
As AR becomes more mainstream, here’s where the next generation of tech is heading:
1️⃣ AI + AR = Predictive Guidance
AR will soon be coupled with AI to suggest actions based on sensor trends and anomaly detection — giving inspectors not just visibility, but recommendations.
2️⃣ Multi-User Inspection Modes
Multiple crew or supervisors can join a single inspection session — even from different locations — collaborating in real-time with shared annotations and chat.
3️⃣ AR + Digital Twin Integration
AR will interface with digital twins, allowing inspectors to compare real-world systems to virtual replicas, highlighting deviations instantly.
4️⃣ Regulatory Acceptance
Flag states and classification societies are beginning to formally recognize AR-based inspections, paving the way for fully remote surveys.
🧭 Conclusion: Inspection, Enhanced
Inspections will always be critical to shipping — but how we perform them is changing fast. AR doesn’t replace experience or expertise, but it amplifies both, offering:
👁️ Greater visibility
🕒 Faster processes
🧠 Smarter collaboration
📄 Stronger records
📈 Tangible returns
Seeing problems before they surface isn’t magic — it’s just smart shipping with smart tools.
💬 Share your thoughts in the comments — I look forward to the exchange!
