Subsea 3D inspection uses high-resolution photogrammetry to assess the condition of submerged assets and produce measurable, verifiable data engineers can act on.
Viewport3 is the first and only company validated by Lloyd’s Register for Photogrammetric Inspection as an Advanced NDE method, and holds CSWIP 3.4U underwater inspection authority in-house, so its report stands as the final report rather than imagery someone else must interpret.
Adding 3D point cloud data collection capabilities to your inspection campaigns offers a desk-based review and inspection that images and words simply cannot match.
These offshore survey methods can also be supported via remote inspection, reducing the need for offshore or onsite personnel.
Our remote access subsea inspection capability — the first in the UK to receive Lloyd’s Register RIT approval — allows your onshore team to direct 3D data acquisition without sending personnel offshore.
Also known as underwater scanning, our subsea 3D inspection camera systems capture engineering-grade data from diver, ROV, or remotely managed platforms — supporting everything from dimensional analysis to retro-fit design.
Understanding the manifestation of a problem is the first step in enabling an efficient return to full operations. Where the reasons are currently unknown, 3D inspection is here to fill in the gaps and help identify the root-cause, including identifying early-stage anomalies in order to help prevent failures in the first place.
Some analysis requirements cannot be met by basic measurements, and deviation mapping is required to fully understand such geometrical challenges. It is a hugely powerful virtual analysis tool which compares two 3D shapes and accurately reports on and measures the differences between the two. The shapes can be 3D scanning data of the same object collected at different times or of course, a comparison of 3D point cloud data against the original CAD to highlight how a piece of hardware has changed shape due to age, damage or corrosion. More information on deviation mapping can be found in our ‘Common Questions‘ section.
3D analysis offers the ability to provide a step-change improvement in comparison to more traditional or visual analysis methods. We’re often asked to analyse anode wastage to provide a more exact figure in terms of material loss, compared to the traditional method of estimating wastage in 20% steps. Similarly, ROV measurement callipers can inadvertently ‘span’ an area of corrosion or damage during a mooring line assessment, whereas 3D data allows precise capture and interrogation of the anomalous area.
If an anomaly is identified during inspection efforts and a 3D capture capability is onboard, it is possible (depending on imaging equipment available at the site) to interrupt the visual inspection and ‘change mode’ to carry out 3D point cloud scanning work. We can even assist via remote inspection, helping you collect a suitable level of 3D data without any requirement to send people or equipment to your work site.
Accuracy is quoted as percentage error rather than an absolute figure, because it scales with the object. In Lloyd’s Register trials on mooring links Viewport3 demonstrated a maximum error of 0.03% — 0.05 mm, or 50 microns — with data density above 200 points/mm². On a 100 m structure the equivalent figure is around 0.1%. Tolerance is set per campaign against what the engineering decision requires.
Yes. Viewport3 was the first UK company to gain Lloyd’s Register approval for Remote Inspection Techniques using underwater 3D photogrammetry, granted in 2023 for mooring chain dimensional inspection. Onshore engineers direct capture remotely and the assessment is completed from the desk.
Yes. Viewport3 has measured damage to a flexible riser in turbid conditions, and has recovered jobs where rigid stereo-camera rigs failed. Because capture is camera-agnostic rather than tied to a fixed rig, the method adapts to the conditions and the access available.
An engineering answer, not a point cloud. Deliverables are built around the decision you need to make — measurements, assessment and, where the work leads to fabrication, build-ready outputs such as exploded diagrams and cut lists. Analysis is performed on raw point-cloud data rather than a decimated mesh, so nothing is lost before the measurement is taken. Datasets can also be explored directly through Viewport View, with no specialist software, or exported as a raw 3D shape in your preferred format.
