TSC Subsea has introduced its ORCA system for in-service hull inspection, marking a development in non-destructive testing (NDT) capabilities for the marine and offshore sectors.
The deck-launched crawler enables inspection and condition assessment of vessel hulls both above and below the waterline while assets remain operational. The approach is designed to support continuous vessel availability by reducing reliance on dry-docking and minimizing operational disruption.
ORCA is built on TSC Subsea’s proprietary Acoustic Resonance Technology (ART), which has been validated by Lloyd’s Register for quantitative ultrasonic thickness measurement (UTM). The system is capable of detecting both internal and external corrosion in ship hull carbon steel plates through coatings, eliminating the need for surface preparation or coating removal.
The system has undergone engineering development, testing, and industry engagement, including demonstrations with international naval stakeholders and a completed in-water inspection of an FPSO hull. These deployments focused on improving inspection efficiency while addressing challenges such as dry-docking requirements, diver exposure, and data consistency.
ORCA’s omnidirectional drive system enables high coverage and maneuverability across complex hull geometries, reducing the number of deployments required for comprehensive inspection. The platform delivers wall thickness measurements with sub-millimetre accuracy, supporting repeatable and reliable data collection for integrity assessment.
From an NDT perspective, the system enables full hull inspections without taking vessels out of service. Its diverless, deck-launched deployment reduces safety risks and inspection costs by removing the need for divers, remotely operated vehicles, or dedicated support vessels.
The inspection data generated by ORCA is intended to support risk-based inspection (RBI) programmes, providing asset owners and operators with consistent inputs for maintenance planning and structural integrity management.
With commercial availability now extended globally, the system is positioned for deployment across naval fleets, commercial shipping, and offshore production assets, including FPSOs, where continuous operation and asset reliability remain critical.
Reference: https://www.tscsubsea.com/orca-hull-inspection/
