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Applying Infrared Imaging Techniques to Marine Surveying

 

InfraMation 2003 Application Paper Submission

 

John (JACK) N. Allinson  

J.N. Allinson Associates, Inc. 

 

ABSTRACT  

Marine surveyors are to the marine industry as building and home inspectors are to the commercial and  residential real estate industry. Marine surveyors’ opinions are relied upon to document the “Condition  and Value” of the vessels (boats, ships) they inspect. When marine surveyors examine a vessel, they rely  heavily upon experience and what can be seen, heard, and felt. Traditionally, visual anomalies seen with  the unaided eye often are the sole basis for further testing. Infrared images are an effective tool in  extending a marine surveyor’s visual ability to detect anomalies. This paper illustrates the use of the  FirstMate™ infrared camera from FLIR. Presented are examples of what can be found when inspecting  structural, mechanical, and electrical systems on boats. It will refer to common deficiencies found in  vessels and show how infrared imaging has become an effective tool in documenting problems found  during inspections. 

 

INTRODUCTION  

Common to all marine surveys are deliverables that provide a “Condition and Value” of a vessel.  Typically the “Condition” of a vessel is based upon its structural integrity and how the systems onboard  function. Inherent in the “Condition” are generally accepted terms that reflect whether a boat is ready for  sale and required no additional work. Similar to the real estate industry, the “Value” of a vessel is based  upon recent sales comparables and income earning potential of the vessel.  

When vessels are inspected, they are looked at with respect to the mandatory standards promulgated by the  United States Coast Guard (USCG), under the authority of Title 46 United States Code (USC); Title 33 and Title 46,  Code of Federal Regulations (CFR), and the voluntary standards and recommended practices developed by the  American Boat and Yacht Council (ABYC) and the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA).

 

Two business segments are typically served:  

• Commercial – Tugboats, Passenger Vessels, Shipping, and Fisheries  

• Recreational – Yachts and Small Craft  

 

Within each business segment inspections can be broken down into the following types: 

• Prepurchase – requested by buyer when purchasing a new or used vessel  

• Seller – requested to help prepare for the sale of a vessel

• Insurance – required by an underwriter(s) to determine if vessel is an acceptable risk

• Appraisal – required by a lending institution, or legally for estate settlements and donations

• Damage – required to settle an insurance claim or for legal action  

 

EXAMPLES OF INFRARED APPLICATIONS  

Electrical (Figures 1 and 2)  

• Direct Current (DC) systems  

• Electrical panel, batteries, and bundled wires  

• Alternating Current (AC) systems  

• Shore power, house power, electrical panel, and bundled wires.

 

Mechanical (Figures 3 and 4)  

• Motors, electric and internal combustion  

• Bearings  

• Gears  

• Refrigeration  

 

Vessel Construction Materials and Common Problems  

Fiberglass Reinforced Plastic (FRP) hulls (Figures 5 and 6)    

• Moisture accumulation  

• Osmotic blisters  

• Delamination 

 

Wooden boat hulls (Figures 7 and 8)

Open seams between wooden planks  

• Moisture accumulation  

• Wood rot  

• Mechanical fasteners

 

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Composites – foam and wood coring materials (Figures 9 and 10)  

• Delamination  

• Moisture accumulation  

• Disbonding  

 

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Other materials that lend themselves to IR imaging  

 

Carbon fiber – used to construct sailboat masts, booms, arches, and hulls.  

• Delamination  

• Shows fractures from point source loading  

 

Metal – aluminum and steel  

• Surface leaks on fuel, holding, or water tanks  

• Moisture accumulation in select areas in the hull interior  

 

Concrete (Ferro cement)  

• Identify fractures and cracks  

• Moisture Accumulation  

• Disbonding between cement and wire reinforcement  

• Locate metal reinforcement 

 

SUMMARY  

Infrared imaging clearly is a valuable tool for a marine surveyor. Like other investigative tools, it should  not be used as the sole source for identifying a problem. A surveyor’s experience, knowledge of how the  boats systems function, the construction methods used, and use of other supporting investigative tools  are key to the accurate interpretation of what the infrared images show.