Flyability took part in the 2026 Innovation Summit organised by the American Bureau of Shipping ahead of SMM Hamburg to demonstrate the advancements in drone technology for safer vessel inspections. This follows several years of close partnership between ABS and Flyability and an increasing interest among maritime players in Remote Inspection Techniques and class-approved drone inspections.
The Elios 3 UT demonstrating remote UTM capabilities at the ABS Innovation Summit
During the first edition of the ABS Innovation Summit in Hamburg, Flyability representatives and the EMEA Vice President of Technology at ABS, Chris Leontopoulos, demonstrated live how maritime inspection drones are now being used to help surveyors perform vessel inspections and class surveys more safely and efficiently.
During the Summit, a dedicated mock-up of a vessel's steel frame was built to demonstrate the drone's capability to remotely perform Close-up Visual Inspections (CVI), Ultrasonic Thickness Measurements (UTMs), and Digital Twinning. A demonstration of ABS' new AI Corrosion Detection software, developed together with ShipReality, was also demonstrated live using the Elios 3's camera feed. This marks an exciting new era for vessel inspections where fewer scaffolds, lower inspection downtime, and zero confined space entries or work at height for surveyors and inspection teams could soon become the standard.
Demonstration of a drone inspecting a corroded steel frame from a vessel
The Summit was a great success, bringing together ABS and maritime industry leaders from around the world for a first-hand look at the cutting-edge technologies shaping the next phase of maritime operations and to discuss the future of maritime and offshore innovation. Flyability was proud to be part of the esteemed presenters and be able to demonstrate the capabilities of the Elios 3 UT and how they can drive safety, efficiency, sustainability, and digital transformation in the maritime industry.
Find out more about vessel inspection with drones at: https://www.flyability.com/maritime-drones