Port buys underwater drone

The Albany Port Authority has purchased an underwater drone which is believed to be the first of its kind used at a port in WA.

The drone will assist the APA in a number of tasks that until now have been completed by underwater divers.

Some of the jobs include inspections of wharf piles, ship hulls, dredging and environmental monitoring.

APA general manager Brad Williamson said the new piece of equipment would not replace divers.

“We currently use divers for these jobs and we will continue to use them; the drone can’t actually make repairs” he said

“Sometimes the ships collide with the wharf, ships hulls can have a build-up of biofouling and it can help us inspect the results of dredging in the port.”

Mr Williamson said the purchase of the drone was an example of how rapid technological advances could benefit smaller organisations

“Traditionally this sort of equipment is used in the oil and gas industry but technology has advanced so much that it’s changed the way you do things” he said

The drone cost $35,000 and operators require bout 10 hours of training. It will be used by environmental officers, wharf managers and the harbour master.

The need for an underwater drone stemmed from research conducted by APA environmental officers in relation to inspections of the seabed.