Bruinisse, The Netherlands – June 30, 2020 – Terra Inspectioneering, a group company of Japan-based Terra Drone Corporation, has been awarded a confined space inspection contract for the Netherlands and Belgium by Dutch multinational tank storage company Vopak.
Under the contract, Terra Inspectioneering will provide non-entry visual testing, ultrasonic thickness testing, and deformation analysis services to Vopak using the proprietary collision-proof Terra UT drone. The drone inspection services will be offered for the tanks owned and operated by Vopak at 11 sites across Belgium and the Netherlands.
Terra Inspectioneering will conduct the inspections according to international standards – EEMUA-159 and API-653 – and provide Vopak with a fully digitized, Cloud-based report containing 2D and 3D annotations.
Traditionally, tank inspections are performed by sending staff into confined spaces. This method not only reduces the productivity of the terminal because of longer downtime but it also exposes inspectors to potentially hazardous conditions.
Patrick van der Voort, Division President Europe & Africa at Vopak, says, “Eliminating risk for all workers is a key element underpinning each activity at Vopak. Vopak has been piloting the use of drones and robotics for safer inspections with an aim to completely eliminate confined space entry by personnel.”
Terra Inspectioneering supports Vopak’s mission to create a safer, sustainable, and more productive workplace and believes that its drones can catalyze the digital transformation of the energy and chemicals industry.
Ron van Seeters, General Manager and Co-Founder of Terra Inspectioneering, says, “Drones are the safest and most reliable tools to conduct complex inspections in confined and GPS-occluded spaces. They reduce the time taken for inspection by up to 60 percent and keep the workers safe. Especially in the current COVID-19 pandemic environment, using drones for inspections can help to minimize the number of workers on the site, allowing organizations to meet government-mandated social distancing guidelines.”
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For further information, please contact:
Terra Inspectioneering B.V.
Phone: +31 (0)111 481655, +31 6 44557462
Email: [email protected]
Website: https://www.terra-inspectioneering.com/
About Terra Drone Corporation
Established in 2016, Terra Drone Corporation has quickly become one of the world’s largest industrial drone solution companies employing more than 550 drone industry professionals. The company’s head office is located in Tokyo, Japan, with branches spread throughout Asia, Europe, the Americas, Africa, and Oceania. Terra Drone provides innovative enterprise drone services for oil and gas, utilities, renewables, mining, construction, and GIS sectors, among others.
Apart from RoNik Inspectioneering (now Terra Inspectioneering) Terra Drone’s previous investments include UTM service provider Unifly; C-Astral, which develops high-endurance fixed-wing UAVs; and Ventus Geospatial, which has patented gas leak detection technology. Going forward, Terra Drone will continue to invest in technology companies with cutting-edge solutions for drones. For all the latest news and information about Terra Drone, visit the company’s LinkedIn and Twitter handles.
About Royal Vopak
Royal Vopak is the world’s leading independent tank storage company. We store vital products with care. With over 400 years of history and a focus on sustainability, we ensure safe, clean and efficient storage and handling of bulk liquid products and gases for our customers. By doing so, we enable the delivery of products that are vital to our economy and daily lives, ranging from chemicals, oils, gases and LNG to biofuels and vegoils. We are determined to develop key infrastructure solutions for the world’s changing energy systems, while simultaneously investing in digitalization and innovation. Vopak is listed on the Euronext Amsterdam and is headquartered in Rotterdam, the Netherlands. For more information, please visit www.vopak.com
