Blueye X3 for Hull Inspections
The Blueye X3 is a professional-grade underwater Remotely Operated Vehicle (ROV) designed for maritime inspections, including ship hull assessments, port security, offshore infrastructure monitoring, and subsea asset management. It stands out for its robust design, high-quality imaging, and modular expandability, making it an optimal choice for shipowners, fleet managers, and marine surveyors.
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🏷️ Pricing: New | Used | Bulk
1️⃣ Technical Specifications of the Blueye X3
General Build & Dimensions
- Weight: 9 kg (19.8 lbs) – Light enough for easy deployment by a single operator.
- Size:
- Length: 485 mm
- Width: 257 mm
- Height: 354 mm
- Frame Material: High-strength composite material optimized for durability, neutral buoyancy, and corrosion resistance in saltwater conditions.
- Thruster Configuration:
- 4 thrusters (2 vertical, 2 horizontal) for omnidirectional movement and precise maneuverability in confined spaces like under piers, ship hull recesses, and ballast tank openings.
Depth & Tether
- Maximum Operational Depth: 305 meters (1,000 feet) – Allows deep ship hull and offshore structure inspections.
- Tether Options:
- 75m standard tether
- 150m extended tether available
- Neutrally buoyant tether for ease of handling in turbulent waters.
- Auto Depth Hold & Auto Heading Modes – Enables steady positioning for in-depth analysis without manual corrections.
Camera System
- Sensor Type: 1/2.8” Exmor R CMOS Sensor – Optimized for low-light underwater visibility.
- Resolution: Full HD 1920 x 1080 pixels (30 fps) – Ideal for detecting corrosion, marine growth, hull fractures, or coating damage.
- Optical Field of View: 115° wide-angle lens – Allows for capturing large sections of a hull without excessive repositioning.
- Mechanical Tilt: -30° to +30° – Provides greater inspection flexibility, especially for capturing angles above or below the ROV’s horizontal plane.
- Shutter Speed: 1/30s to 1/8000s – Adapts to various lighting conditions to avoid image blurring due to motion.
Lighting System
- LED Lights: 3300 lumens (2x 1650 lumens)
- Color Temperature: 5000K (daylight balanced)
- Color Rendering Index (CRI): 90 – Provides high-fidelity color reproduction, crucial for identifying rust, biofouling, and coating degradation.
Battery & Endurance
- Standard Battery: ~2 hours operational time.
- High-Capacity Battery (Optional): Extends to 5 hours – Essential for longer ship inspections without needing a recharge.
- Charging Time: ~2.5 hours (standard battery).
Connectivity & Control
- Control Interface: Blueye App (Windows, iOS, Android)
- Wireless Controller Support: Yes (via smartphone or tablet)
- Live Streaming: Real-time HD streaming to mobile devices, tablets, and external monitors, allowing for remote supervision.
- Recording & Storage:
- 256GB internal storage – Ensures extensive video documentation without needing external storage.
2️⃣ Advanced Features Beneficial for Ship Hull Inspections
The Blueye X3 stands out due to its ability to integrate additional inspection tools via its three guest ports, making it adaptable to various maritime survey needs.
Guest Ports (Payload Integration)
The X3 is the only Blueye ROV with three guest ports, allowing for:
✅ Ultrasonic Thickness Gauges – Measures hull steel/aluminum thickness to detect corrosion or material loss.
✅ Cathodic Protection Probes – Assesses anode effectiveness to prevent hull degradation.
✅ Laser Scalers – Used for precise marine growth measurements and crack width analysis.
✅ Extra Cameras & Lighting – Enhances visibility in murky or deep-water environments.
✅ Robotic Manipulators (Claws & Grabbers) – Assists in debris removal or securing small samples from hull coatings.
3️⃣ Benefits for Ship Hull Inspections
Using the Blueye X3 for ship hull inspections provides several advantages over traditional diving operations.
✅ Safety Benefits
- Reduces Diver Risk – Avoids sending human divers into hazardous conditions, such as areas with strong currents, biofouling risks, or confined ballast tanks.
- Minimizes Time in Water – Divers are typically limited in how long they can work, while the X3 can inspect continuously for hours.
- Remote Inspection Capabilities – Enables supervisors and inspectors to view footage in real-time from a ship’s bridge or a remote location.
✅ Operational Efficiency
- Rapid Deployment – Can be operational in under 5 minutes, significantly faster than coordinating diver teams and decompression schedules.
- Auto-Stabilization & Heading Lock – Ensures steady footage and accurate assessments without drift.
- High-Quality Visual Documentation – Video can be reviewed post-inspection to assess hull integrity over time.
✅ Cost Savings
- Eliminates Frequent Diver Inspections – A single Blueye X3 purchase can replace multiple costly diver inspections per year.
- Faster Turnaround for Surveys – Reduces vessel downtime, allowing for inspections between charters or even while docked.
✅ Versatility
- Suitable for All Vessel Types – From bulk carriers and tankers to yachts and offshore support vessels.
- Works in Low Visibility – Strong LED lighting and color-correcting imaging ensure usable data even in turbid conditions.
- Hull Integrity Monitoring – Detects:
- Corrosion spots
- Paint/coating breakdowns
- Structural deformations
- Biofouling accumulation (before drydock cleaning)
3️⃣ Drawbacks & Limitations for Ship Hull Inspections
While the Blueye X3 is one of the best ROVs for ship hull inspections, there are a few limitations to consider.
⚠️ Battery Life Considerations
- The standard battery lasts ~2 hours, which may not be sufficient for large vessel hull inspections.
- Solution: Investing in the high-capacity battery (5-hour runtime) is recommended for longer inspections without needing a recharge.
⚠️ No Built-in Sonar
- Challenge: In zero-visibility conditions, a multibeam sonar is ideal for hull mapping.
- Workaround: Can be equipped with an external sonar via guest ports, but it increases cost.
⚠️ Learning Curve
- First-time users may require training to utilize all features, especially integration of third-party tools like UT gauges.
- Solution: Blueye provides training support & instructional guides.
⚠️ Limited to Tether Length
- While tether options range from 75m-150m, for large ships (e.g., supertankers), additional planning is required to reposition the ROV along different hull sections.
5️⃣ Final Verdict: Is the Blueye X3 the right ROV for Ship Hull Inspections?
✅ YES, if:
- You need a high-quality visual inspection ROV with integrated tools like UT gauges & cathodic protection probes.
- You want real-time streaming & documentation for regulatory compliance.
- Your inspections involve moderate to deep water hull assessments.
⚠️ Consider an alternative if:
- You require built-in sonar for murky waters.
- You need an ROV with over 150m tether length for deep-sea hull checks.
Final Score for Ship Hull Inspections: 9.5/10
The Blueye X3 is one of the best ship hull inspection ROVs available, combining image clarity, modular expansion, and ease of deployment to streamline hull maintenance, safety checks, and pre-drydock surveys.
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