Aberdeen-based 3D scanning company Viewport3 has become the first business in the UK to be approved by Lloyd’s Register for remote inspection techniques using underwater photogrammetry.
The certification was granted to Viewport3 following a successful offshore project along with an onshore validation trial, which involved using photogrammetry to verify mooring chain link critical dimensions to a submillimeter level—a level of accuracy and data density that far exceeds those attained by traditional approaches. As a result, the Viewport3 team has developed new reporting methods that better suit the high-resolution 3D replica of mooring links and meet the requirements of both field operator and statutory inspection regulations.
“It is a huge honor for a small company like Viewport3 to receive such a credible certification,” said Chris Harvey, co-founder and director of Viewport3. “Our team are absolutely delighted that our hard work over the last few years has been recognized and that our photogrammetry processes has now been verified by such a highly regarded organization. Our 3D scanning photogrammetry technology offers numerous benefits to our ever-growing client base. It allows us to capture precise, technical-grade results, which produce visually correct, and therefore reliable, outputs.”
During the same campaign, Viewport3 also deployed a modified version of its subsea capture system to measure anomalies on several fairlead assemblies. Because of the location of the anomalies, this scanning activity needed to take place between the backplate of the fairlead and the mooring line itself. This was successfully achieved through collaboration with the remote-offshore-vehicle team and offshore Viewport3 personnel, using the modified system to light up and capture the extremely tight-access areas.