Why Underwater Inspections Matter

Mozambique’s ports — Maputo, Matola, Beira, Quelimane, Moma, Nacala, Pemba and Palma — face strong currents, low visibility, sediment and rapid marine growth.

Underwater inspections are essential for:

• Maintaining hull integrity
• Meeting Class & insurance requirements
• Monitoring marine growth & fuel impact
• Detecting corrosion, cracks and structural issues
• Safe approach, berthing and departures

Main Types of Underwater Inspections

1. Hull Condition Survey

Full documentation of hull, coating, marine growth, anomalies and structural integrity.

2. Propeller & Rudder Inspection

Detection of impact damage, bent blades, cracks and vibration sources.

3. Mini-ROV Inspections

Ideal for low-visibility environments and locations where diver operations are restricted.

4. Class IWS Preparation

Underwater verification, imagery and reporting packages for classification societies.

5. Biofouling Inspection

Structured marine growth assessment using digital imaging workflows and AI support.

Biofouling Levels Explained

• Level 0 – Clean: Fresh paint or very recent cleaning.
• Level 1 – Light: Thin slime layer, minimal drag impact.
• Level 2 – Moderate: Soft algae and patchy barnacles on key areas.
• Level 3 – Heavy: Barnacles, tubeworms and dense growth with strong drag impact.

How Vessels Should Prepare for Inspections

• Share GA drawings or relevant plans when available.
• Confirm port schedule, tides and operational windows in advance.
• Ensure engines, thrusters and propellers remain fully stopped.
• Stabilise the vessel as much as possible during inspection.
• Pause discharges and operations that may affect visibility or safety.

360° Virtual Vessel Tours for Crew Training & Simulation

Inhaca Sub creates interactive 360° virtual tours of vessels above the waterline – similar to real estate virtual tours, but designed specifically for shipboard operations and crew training.

Using 360° cameras, we capture key areas such as the bridge, engine control room (ECR), accommodation, main deck, mooring stations, lifeboat stations and escape routes. The result is a browser-based tour that crews can explore on any laptop or tablet, clicking through decks and spaces as if they were physically onboard.

Masters, officers and HSE teams can use these tours for pre-joining familiarisation, port and terminal briefings and simple “what if” simulations without interrupting live operations or waiting for the next call to the vessel.

Typical Areas Covered

• Bridge, chart area and navigation workstations
• Engine control room (ECR) and access routes to machinery spaces
• Main deck walk-arounds, manifolds and cargo control areas (where applicable)
• Forward and aft mooring stations
• Muster stations, lifeboats, rafts and embarkation areas
• Accommodation corridors, stairways and escape routes
• Gangway, access control points and visitors’ routes

How Operators Use the Tours

• Pre-joining familiarisation for new crew and riding squads
• Port and terminal specific safety briefings before first call
• Internal drills and scenario-based training using the real vessel layout
• Induction for shore-based superintendents, vetting and HSE personnel

Deliverables: a web-based 360° tour that runs in a standard browser, with hotspots and labels for critical equipment, routes and risk areas, ready for use in briefings, toolbox talks and internal training platforms.

Mini-ROV Ballast Tank Inspection via Deck Access

Inhaca Sub performs internal ballast tank inspections using compact ROVs introduced from deck manholes and access hatches while the vessel is afloat. No underwater diving is required, reducing risk and mobilisation time.

The mini-ROV carries dedicated lighting and camera systems to document coating condition, corrosion, structural details, anodes and sediment inside the tanks. This significantly reduces the need for man entry into confined spaces and provides structured visual evidence that owners, managers and class can review from shore.

The service is particularly useful before dry-dock, pre-purchase inspections or whenever you need a rapid condition snapshot without full gas-free and entry preparations.

What We Assess Inside Tanks

• Coating breakdown, blistering and rust staining on shell and internal structure
• Pitting, general corrosion and areas of increased wastage
• Stiffeners, webs, brackets and critical structural intersections
• Anode condition, wasted or missing anodes and areas with poor protection
• Sediment, scale and debris around suctions, drains and low points
• Evidence of previous repairs, reinforcements or crack-stopping works

Key Advantages for Owners & Managers

• Reduced confined space entry and associated risk
• Faster mobilisation using compact ROVs from deck access points
• Time-stamped video and stills that can be replayed, shared and archived
• Practical pre-screen before committing to full tank entry campaigns

Where We Operate

• Maputo
• Matola
• Beira
• Quelimane
• Moma
• Nacala
• Pemba
• Palma (LNG)