Underwater CCTV Video Inspection Kamsar
CCTV is the standard tool for modern underwater inspection. A Diver carries a camera, lights and a communication line, and everything he sees appears on screens above the water. For a ship in Kamsar, an underwater CCTV video inspection means the superintendent, the master or the class surveyor can see the hull as the Diver sees it, ask questions in real time and receive a complete recording at the end.
The Equipment
Our CCTV equipment includes a high-definition camera, usually 1080p or higher, mounted on the Diver's helmet or carried by hand. Powerful LED lights, often exceeding 5,000 lumens in total, light the surface even in poor visibility. A cable carries video and voice to the surface control unit, where a recorder stores the file with date and time. A scale bar or ruler is held beside defects, so that size can be read from the image.
Working in Turbid Water
The Rio Nunez estuary often carries suspended silt. In low visibility, a camera cannot see far, and light can reflect back from particles, a problem known as backscatter. We reduce this by keeping the camera close to the surface, angling lights away from the lens and cleaning small windows through the growth. Where visibility is under about a metre, close-up inspection and tactile examination by the Diver support the video record.
Live Viewing for Surveyors
- The surveyor can view the feed on deck, on the boat or through a remote link.
- Voice communication between Diver and supervisor allows instructions to be passed instantly.
- Frame captures can be taken during the dive and attached to the report.
- A copy of the full video is handed over at the end of the work.
What We Inspect With CCTV
CCTV is used for shell plating and coating, bilge keels, sea chests and strainers, thruster tunnels, rudder and pintles, propeller blades and shaft seals, anodes and the anchor and chain. Wherever the camera can reach, the owner gains a visual record, which can be compared with future inspections. This is particularly useful for tracking slow changes, such as growth of pitting corrosion or gradual coating failure.
Video Records Over Time
A single video is useful, but a series is more useful. By repeating the same route in each inspection, the owner can see how the coating changes and how quickly fouling returns after cleaning. We store the files securely and can provide copies to the owner, the charterer or the class society. For ships on long-term service between Kamsar and distant discharge ports, such a record supports decisions on maintenance timing.
Book a CCTV Inspection
Tell us which areas you want to see, and we will plan the camera route, lighting and reporting.
Remote Attendance by Owners and Surveyors
With a live video link, owners and surveyors do not need to be present at the ship. A superintendent in the office can watch the dive, ask the Diver to look closer and capture frames for the report. This reduces travel cost and speeds up decisions. For class societies that allow remote attendance in suitable cases, live CCTV also supports acceptance. We test the link before the dive and keep a local recording in case the connection is lost.
Camera Handling and Scale
The value of CCTV depends on how the camera is handled. We keep a steady distance from the plate, move slowly and use a scale reference near every defect. Where a defect is long, such as a crack, the camera follows it from end to end so its full length can be read on the recording.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Q1. What video quality is used?
Our standard is 1080p, with 4K available on request for detailed work.
Q2. How much light is needed in turbid water?
Typically 5,000 lumens or more, with lights positioned to reduce backscatter.
Q3. Can the surveyor watch live from the ship?
Yes. Live video and voice can be relayed to the ship's deck or office, subject to equipment and conditions.
Q4. How long is the video record kept?
We normally retain files for at least 12 months and provide a copy to the client on completion.
Q5. Is CCTV enough to measure plate thickness?
No. CCTV shows visual condition. Thickness requires ultrasonic Thickness Measurement on cleaned steel.