Page 82: of Maritime Reporter Magazine (November 2003)

Coatings & Corrosion Control • Marine Paint Buyer's Guide

Xybernaut Gets Patent for Detecting Corrosion on Maritime Vessels

Xybernaut Corporation has been granted a patent by the U.S. Patent and

Trademark Office related to a system that detects corrosion on maritime ves- sels.

This patent, U.S. 6,633,820, describes a broad array of potential military, com- mercial and recreational applications.

Called "System for assessing metal deterioration on maritime vessels," the patent essentially describes a system or apparatus for on-site testing and inspect- ing of metal structures and their deterio- ration using non-destructive testing (NDT) devices and computing technolo- gies. Under this patent, the inspector wears both the NDT device and a mobile/wearable computer. This config- uration affords immediate access to inspection and test results. In the marine industry, ships of all kinds are inspected and gauged for hull thickness and dete- rioration. This activity typically takes place at specified intervals and at prede- termined locations. In particular, chemi- cal and oil tankers and bulk carriers are subject to metal deterioration, because of corrosion, at a faster rate than other types of ships. Significant metal loss places the vessel at risk of severe casu- alty and/or loss. "Current inspection/gauging practices typically require the inspector to obtain data while on the vessel, however, the infor- mation must then be transferred from a paper checklist or a hand-held device to a more powerful computer for compari- son with a stored database of past data," said Richard Bizar, vice president for

Xybernaut Corporation. "This activity takes time and the vessel, in most cases, is underway - engaged in numerous operations when actual hull condition is determined. Decisions made at this time can mean the difference between life and death and considerable costs, as in the case of vessels or cargo lost in heavy weather because of deteriorated hull strength." Richard Bizar, inventor for this patent, is a retired U.S. Coast Guard

Officer who specialized in Marine

Safety and Environmental Protection during his USCG career of over 20 years. During his USCG tenure. Richard had many assignments in shipyards, including resident USCG Inspector at

Todd Seattle and St Louis Ship. At

Xybernaut. where he has been for the past four years, Bizar currently directs special projects related to various tech- nologies and market sectors.

Specifically related to this patent, he has analyzed how mobile/wearable tech- nologies can be utilized for on-site test- ing and inspection of ships and metal structures to determine deterioration as well as to identify defects.

Circle 61 on Reader Service Card

We're not just blowing bubbles!

TMS has token Took Level Indication to o new level... ...... • i r»n™ Meet the levelCom 100

Imagine! A one size fits all tank level indicator that monitors depth, volume, weight and specific gravity of virtually any liquid! And it does it all without special sensors.

No sensor in the tank!

That's right! No expensive or fragile pressure transmitter or sensor in the tank. No more need to empty and gas free a tank to repair or calibrate a tank level indicator!

Pocked uiith Feotures! • ABS Type Approved Tank Gauging

System • Automatic sense line leak and plug detection • No custom scales required • Automatic self calibration • Programmable alarm and control setpoints • 10 point depth/volume/weight "Tank Table" accurately tracks the shape of the tank • 4-20mA input and output options add to the versatility of the

LevelCom 100

Simply the most complete

Tank Level Indicating system available today.

Going to the 2003 Workboat Show?

Stop by and see the LevelCom Tank Level Indicating System at the following booth locations ...

Gulf Coast

ElectroWaveUSA, Inc.

Houston, TX

Booth 231

TMS, Inc. Phone: 503/285-8947 Web: www.tms-usa.com

Great Lakes Region

Hyde Marine, Inc.

Cleveland, OH

Booth 2035

VUYK ENGINEERING

I HE ART OF CREATING SHIPS

Naval architects • Marine engineers • Consultants

Vuyk Ship Design Galati

T +40 (0)236 47 66 72

F +40 (0)236 46 03 36

E [email protected]

Vuyk Engineering Groningen

T +31 (0)50 575 39 50

F +31 (0)50 575 39 51

E [email protected]

Vuyk Engineering Rotterdam

T +31 (0)10 450 25 00

F +31 (0)10 458 72 45

E [email protected]

Vuyk Kenton Singapore

T +65 6467 13 22

F +65 6466 53 25

E [email protected] www.vuykengineering.com

Vuyk Engineering is a subsidiary of the Central Industry Group NV, Groningen, the Netherlands.

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