Cygnus subsea stars rise to challenges in rapidly evolving industry
09/12/2021
Cygnus Instruments is renowned worldwide as a master of robust and user-friendly ultrasonic testing equipment. Its first-class subsea range is designed to perform quick, efficient routine maintenance surveys on subsea structures and equipment, from offshore rigs, UWILD and IWS class surveys to caissons, canal locks and pipelines.The Cygnus Underwater, one of the first products Cygnus brought to the market nearly four decades ago, remains the top choice for many divers. This is a testament to the outstanding original design in response to divers’ essential requirements for a rugged, reliable ultrasonic testing instrument that performs accurate subsea surveys under hostile conditions. This original diver-held subsea multiple-echo ultrasonic thickness gauge is still considered to be the industry standard.
Despite this, Cygnus has adapted to inevitable advances in offshore inspection, most notably by facilitating the advantages of using two hands in challenging underwater conditions.
By introducing Cygnus Dive, a robust, wrist-mountable multi-mode unit, Cygnus provided divers with an invaluable free hand with which to perform ultrasonic thickness measurement underwater. The large, bright display with live A-scan, ideal for heavy corrosion, is easily viewable to both diver and camera, even in poor visibility. Automatic data-logging, topside repeater and HelmetView™ options add to the functionality.
Cygnus Dive promised to aid divers in as many situations as possible and has proved to be successful with an important role in the industry’s biggest effort to minimise the environmental impact and provide cleaner air.
Since the ‘IMO 2020’ 0.5% sulphur emission cap, initiated by the International Maritime Organisation (IMO), was enforced on all ships worldwide in January 2020, ship hulls have suffered a worrying level of corrosion. This is caused by corrosive wash water discharged from scrubbers, which have been installed on nearly 4000 ships globally as a means to meet the cap.
Consequently, classification societies such as DNV GL now require wall thickness measurement for the SOx scrubber overboard distance piece in annual class surveys, to ensure regular preventative scrubber structural integrity maintenance. Ultrasonic testing is simple, inexpensive and reliable for achieving this.
Often, instead of dry-docking, marine vessels are inspected in operation. These UWILD surveys reduce downtime, travel time and cost and are generally performed by divers. Many choose Cygnus Dive thanks to its usability and impressive functionalities.
With such capability and versatility, the company is excited to imagine what it could achieve in the future.
https://cygnus-instruments.com
