Medemblik is conducting a special test with the inspection of quay walls in the port. Namely with an underwater drone. These types of inspections are normally difficult to carry out, so today we are looking at three places to see if this can be a solution.
Equipped with a camera and a sonar, the drone takes to the water. Anyone who envisions a flying drone is wrong. “It originated from the ROV, Remotely Operated Vehicle, and that was used in the offshore. The way in which we combine techniques and make a complete analysis is quite innovative,” explains Karst Beens of H2O-Drones.
Directly from the command center on the shore you can see what can be seen under the apparently calm water surface. “Normally divers do the work, but that can entail danger and visibility is much more limited.” The underwater drone can look up to 300 meters deep and up to 40 meters ahead. It can easily oversee large surfaces and whether there are items that do not belong there.
Junk on the bottom
An inspection will take place at three locations. For example, there is a hidden culvert behind a sheet pile wall and the condition of the quay walls and the concrete girders on the bottom that were constructed in 1978 are examined on the Achterom.
The drone also checks whether there may be an object on the bottom of the Oosterhaven, after a report from the harbor master. Beens: “We encounter all kinds of things that can be dangerous for ships. By mapping it out, it can be decided whether or not to remove it.”
In the Oosterhaven, for example, he not only looks at the quay wall construction, but also at the report he received from the harbor master that there may be an object there.
Leaning forward or tearing
Benno van Kampen, water specialist at the Municipality of Medemblik, is responsible for the approximately six kilometers of quay wall that the municipality has. “We are trying out what is possible. You have to regularly inspect whether the quay walls do not lean forward or cracks appear.”
And that can be done in different ways. “You have visual inspections, measuring techniques or draining. But that is much more drastic than with an underwater drone.” A new protocol for quay wall inspections is being developed. Now we have to wait for the results and whether further research is needed.