Robotics In Maintenance Strategies BV (RIMS) has received a certificate as a ‘Recognized External Specialist’ from classification society ABS and professional certification body RINA, for the use of Remote Inspection Techniques (drones) during surveys of enclosed spaces aboard vessels.

This follows the recent announcement that RIMS was the first company to receive an attestation from Bureau Veritas (BV) Marine & Offshore, as an approved service supplier.

RIMS is a global provider of high tech, safe, autonomous and sustainable surveying and maintenance solutions. Its services aid the replacement of old, expensive, slower, high-risk and resource intensive maintenance activities, with new smarter drone and robotic technologies.

The approval allows shipowners and managers to invite RIMS to attend during a Class survey, supporting the surveyors by showing the objects to be inspected live on screen, similar to that of a diving survey. Appointing RIMS to provide this service reduces the time to carry out scheduled survey work and also avoids unnecessary costs of access equipment such as scaffolding or cherry pickers. In turn, according to RIMS this will also lead to minimising risk and physical evidence, bringing substantial benefits to owners, insurers and classification societies.

David Knukkel, CEO of RIMS BV commented on the approval: “Being the first company in the world with the approval of Bureau Veritas, and now also receiving the approval from ABS and RINA, means that we managed to realise a real shift in the maritime industry with its acceptance of using new technology”.

By Jake Frith