During Marintec China trade fair in Shanghai, DNV GL inked a cooperation agreement with Guangzhou Shipyard International Company Limited (GSI) to launch a project to enhance welding non-destructive testing (NDT) efficiency through the automatic detection and assessment of radiography testing (RT) digital images.
Under the agreement between the two partners, GSI and DNV GL AI Research Center will use the latest AI technology to develop a way for automatic detection and assessment of welding seam indications in RT digital images.
Normally, shipbuilding is based on countless welds, Xrays are used to detect weld imperfections, such as porosity, slag, and cracks. Given that these Xray images have to be reviewed by non-destructive testing experts, a procedure that is very time consuming, replacing the manual assessment with AI algorithms will boost production and will only acquire human efforts for the final acceptance review.
Also, via AI technology, unacceptable welds are reported much more quickly, which can lead to shorter building times.
GSI Chairman Chen Zhongqian commented that
As the largest modern integrated shipbuilding enterprise in South China, GSI has rich and detailed welding images. I am glad that with DNV GL’s advanced AI, this data can now be used to contribute to the future development of shipbuilding technology.
Chen Zhongqian, Chairman of GSI, and Knut Ørbeck-Nilssen, CEO of DNV GL – Maritime, who initiated the project earlier this year, attended the signing ceremony at the DNV GL booth at Marintec China alongside other members of the management teams. Zhou Mushun, Chief Engineer of GSI, and Norbert Kray, Regional Manager for Greater China at DNV GL, signed the cooperation agreement on behalf of both parties.
