Historically, tank inspections on ships have been completed internally using teams of experienced inspectors. The required 5 yearly dry docking of ships allowed tanks to be cleaned, inspected, and maintained all together. However, due to developments with technology (i.e., robotics) FPSOs today do not leave site as they are on continuous or RBI surveys. [In-situ] Tanks for inspection are taken out of service while the rest are left in-service. This creates inherent risks for the inspection teams, such as heat exhaustion, stress, and fatigue. 

The iCOT robotic systems aim to reduce the HSSE risk exposure by substituting manned inspections and, if absolutely required, reducing the time that a team is in the tank. Sonomatic, in collaboration with drone manufacturers and Shell, developed, de-risked, and deployed drones to capture NDE data significantly reducing the time humans are inside these confined spaces. Traditionally these inspections were done with a crew of people inside these spaces for several days.