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Thermal imaging and acoustic leak surveys for ships and vessels
We bring an industrial-grade Fluke acoustic imager and a FLIR thermal camera on board: compressed air, steam and vacuum leaks and overheating switchboards, motors and bearings are found while the ship is in service. Surveys during port calls or, by arrangement, while riding along – in Finland, the Nordic and Baltic countries, elsewhere in the EU and beyond. Maintenance findings report in English.
Measurement work 149 €/h excl. VAT (min. 2 h) · report in English included · travel quoted per job
Why survey a ship with two cameras?
An engine room is one of the noisiest places to look for a leak – and one of the most important places to find overheating connections. An acoustic camera filters out machinery noise and shows the ultrasound of a leak as a coloured sound map on the image. A thermal camera, which detects temperature differences as small as 0.1 °C, shows hot connections, bearings and insulation defects. Used together on the same visit, they give the chief engineer one prioritised list of findings.
Both surveys are carried out with systems in normal operation: compressed air and steam systems pressurised, vacuum systems running and switchboards under load. Nothing is dismantled, and the work is planned around the ship's schedule and the crew's routines.
What we survey on board
Compressed air on board
Leaks keep air compressors running and can reduce the pressure available for starting and control air.
- Working (service) air system
- Control air and instrument air
- Starting air lines and valves (pressurised sections)
- Pneumatic controls, actuators and quick couplings
Steam and heating
Steam leaks waste boiler fuel and are a burn hazard even when the steam is invisible.
- Auxiliary boiler steam lines
- Tank heating and steam tracing
- Valves, flanges and stem seals
- Condensate lines (steam traps noted for further inspection)
Vacuum systems
Vacuum sewage and other vacuum systems lose capacity through small leaks that are hard to find by ear.
- Vacuum toilet / sewage systems
- Vacuum lines, valves and connections
- Pump and tank connections
- Other process vacuum lines on board
Switchboards and electrical
Loose or overloaded connections heat up before they fail – thermal imaging shows them under load.
- Main and emergency switchboards
- Motor control centres (MCCs) and distribution boards
- Shore connection panels
- Reefer sockets and their distribution boards
Machinery
Worn bearings, misaligned couplings and clogged coolers show up as local heating.
- Electric motors and pumps
- Fans, separators and compressors
- Hydraulic power packs on deck machinery and cranes
- Heat exchangers and coolers
Exhaust and insulation
Damaged lagging leaves hot surfaces exposed – a common maintenance finding in engine rooms.
- Hot spots on exhaust pipe insulation
- Turbocharger and manifold lagging
- Boiler and steam pipe insulation
- Refrigerated stores and cargo spaces (thermal anomalies as maintenance observations)
More detail: compressed air leaks, steam leaks, vacuum leaks and thermal imaging.
How we work on board
Enquiry and planning
Tell us the vessel type, the systems to survey, the port or route and the dates. We agree the scope with the superintendent or chief engineer and send a cost estimate with travel quoted per job.
Permits and safety induction
Work on board always requires the owner's or master's permission and the ship's safety induction. We follow the ship's safety management system and permit-to-work procedures.
Survey in port or at sea
During a port call, or riding along on a voyage by arrangement. Leaks are tagged on site.
Report in English
A maintenance findings report with images, locations on the general arrangement or a sketch, severity or priority 1–3 and recommended actions – ready for the planned maintenance system and the next yard period.
Vessels and mobile sites
Ferries and RoPax vessels
Busy port schedules – surveys planned around turnaround times or on a crossing.
Cargo ships and bulk carriers
Engine room, deck machinery hydraulics and switchboards during port calls.
Container ships
Reefer sockets and their distribution boards, switchboards and compressors.
Tankers and gas carriers
Engine room and accommodation only – hazardous areas only if gas-free and permitted.
Offshore and work vessels
Compressed air, hydraulics and electrical systems by arrangement.
Ports, terminals and shipyards
Cranes, shore power, workshops and compressed air networks.
Not only ships: we also survey mines, quarries, offshore and onshore industrial sites and mobile machinery fleets – wherever compressed air, gas, steam, vacuum, hydraulics or electrical distribution need checking.
Report
You receive one maintenance findings report in English covering both cameras: each finding with an image, its location, severity or priority 1–3 and a recommended action.
- Floor-plan map with numbered markers. Each finding is marked on a plan of the site (or a general arrangement drawing of the vessel). The number matches the tag attached on site.
- Image of each finding. The finding is circled in the acoustic camera image, so whoever does the repair finds it immediately.
- Severity 1–3. 1 = minor, monitor; 2 = moderate, repair as planned; 3 = major or a safety risk, repair immediately.
- Recommended action. What to do at each location and in which order – the most severe first.
The images are from an example compressed air leak survey report (company, images and figures are illustrative). The example PDF is in Finnish – your report can be delivered in English. Reports for other systems have the same structure; for compressed air leaks the estimated cost of the leaks per year is also calculated.
Price
Sites vary a lot, so pricing is based on time spent. Several systems can be surveyed on the same visit – for example the compressed air network, gas lines and a vacuum system.
| Measurement work (minimum 2 h) | 149 €/h |
|---|---|
| Report (English or Finnish) | included |
| Travel in Finland | Zone-based in Southwest Finland and Kanta-Häme, elsewhere in the estimate |
| Outside Finland and on ships | Travel, accommodation and travel time quoted per job |
Prices exclude VAT. VAT is applied according to the applicable rules (for example, the reverse-charge mechanism may apply to VAT-registered business customers in other EU countries) and confirmed in the quote. You receive a cost estimate before ordering.
Repairs: we can offer repairs case by case; in Finland, compressed air leak repairs are 86 €/h excl. VAT plus parts. On board, repairs are usually planned by the crew or your usual contractors based on the report.
Cost estimate
Request a cost estimate – ship survey
Tell us the vessel type, the systems to survey, the port or route and the dates of the port call. We reply with a cost estimate including travel, usually on the same or the next working day.
+358 43 211 0516Mon–Fri 8:00–16:00 (Finnish time)
Frequently asked questions
Can you survey a vessel during a port call?
Yes. Most surveys are planned for port calls. The scope is agreed in advance with the superintendent or chief engineer so that the systems to be surveyed are in operation. Longer surveys can also be done riding along on a voyage, by arrangement.
Are your surveys class-approved?
No. We are not approved by classification societies such as DNV, LR, ABS or BV, and our reports do not replace class or statutory surveys. The report is a maintenance findings report for the ship's own maintenance planning.
Can you work in hazardous areas such as tanker cargo areas?
Only if the area has been declared gas-free and the owner or master permits the use of our equipment there. Our cameras are not Ex/ATEX certified, so we do not work in gas-hazardous zones otherwise.
Do machinery and systems need to be stopped?
No. Leaks only make a sound when systems are pressurised or running, and electrical faults only heat up under load. The survey is carried out during normal operation.
Can you check exhaust insulation for hot spots?
Yes. A thermal camera shows where insulation on exhaust pipes, turbochargers and steam lines is damaged or missing. We record these as maintenance findings; we do not certify compliance with any regulation.
Which countries and ports do you cover?
We are based in Finland and work in Finnish ports and, by arrangement, in the Nordic and Baltic countries, elsewhere in the EU and beyond. Travel, accommodation and travel time are quoted per job.
How much does a ship survey cost?
Measurement work is 149 €/h excl. VAT, minimum 2 hours, and the report is included. Travel, accommodation and travel time are quoted per job. VAT is applied according to the applicable rules and confirmed in the quote.
In which language is the report?
In English (or Finnish if you prefer). Our example compressed air leak survey report is in Finnish, but it shows the structure of the report.
Quality and environmental management
Our management system has been built in accordance with the requirements of ISO 9001 and ISO 14001. It is self-declared and has not been certified by a third-party certification body.