Nolvis, a manufacturer of industrial drones specialized for indoor and confined-space inspection, announced that its inspection drone Nolvis X1 is being deployed by Bureau Veritas Marine & Offshore (BV) for its remote inspection activities.
The use of Nolvis X1 supports BV's efforts to deliver safer, more efficient vessel and offshore inspections with its Remote Inspection Techniques (RIT). The initiative was showcased at SMM 2026, held in Hamburg from September 1 to 4, where Nolvis X1 was displayed at the BV booth alongside a Nolvis demonstration of confined-space inspection.
Background
Nolvis develops industrial drones and solutions centered on its latest indoor and confined-space inspection drone, the Nolvis X1. One of the company's key strengths is its technology for stable flight in GNSS-denied, dark environments, and demand for this technology has been rising particularly in the maritime sector.
Inside large vessels, most of the internal equipment and spaces — ballast tanks, cargo holds, boilers and stacks — are confined spaces. These environments are often unlit, inaccessible to satellite positioning systems, and may present hazards such as oxygen-deficient atmospheres, toxic gases, high humidity and elevated temperatures. Traditional inspection methods can require extensive preparation, including scaffolding, rope access, re-oxygenation procedures and entry permits, increasing both cost and operational complexity.
To address these challenges, BV developed RIT as an advanced inspection methodology that combines specialist surveyor expertise with drone-enabled inspections and digital technologies. During an RIT survey, qualified surveyors use drones to capture inspection data from confined and hazardous spaces while retaining full responsibility for the inspection assessment. Technology extends the surveyor's reach and precision while keeping human expertise at the centre of the decision-making process.
RIT can help reduce confined-space entry, improve inspection efficiency and minimize operational disruption, while providing shipowners and offshore operators with high-quality inspection data to support maintenance and asset-management decisions.
Overview of the initiative
Nolvis is supporting BV's remote inspection activities through the deployment of Nolvis X1 in several locations, including France, Türkiye, Greece and Denmark. The imagery and 3D data captured by the Nolvis X1 form a measurable record tied to the geometry of each asset, supporting the creation of structured digital inspection records and long-term asset-integrity management.
About the Nolvis X1
The Nolvis X1 is an aircraft developed for use indoors and in confined spaces.
- Access: At roughly 40 cm across, it can pass through manholes and hatches of the 50 cm class that larger platforms cannot enter.
- Stability in the dark: Its in-house LiDAR and forward vision sensor keep the aircraft stable even where GNSS is unavailable, allowing a non-expert to operate it after a short training course. A 4K camera on a 180° tilt and a 10,480-lumen LED array capture inspection-grade imagery, including a true upward view.
- Usable data: Every flight records a 3D point cloud that can be exported in the industry-standard .LAS format. The data is managed centrally in Nolvis X Cloud, a browser-based platform to review, annotate, report and share it.
Comment
The maritime industry is moving away from sending people into tanks and holds, and towards remote inspection. Together with Bureau Veritas, we are making that shift real on working vessels. The drone goes in, the people stay out, and the certified surveyor still makes the call. This is no longer a demonstration; it is how inspection is starting to be done. — Nolvis
The deployment of Nolvis X1 supports our commitment to safer, smarter and more efficient inspections. By combining advanced drone technology with the expertise of our surveyors through Remote Inspection Techniques, we can reduce confined-space entry while delivering high-quality inspection data that helps our clients manage asset integrity and operational performance. — Bureau Veritas Marine & Offshore
Future outlook
Nolvis and Bureau Veritas will continue exploring opportunities to advance confined-space inspection technologies. Future developments may include the integration of ultrasonic thickness (UT) measurement capabilities alongside visual and 3D inspection data, further expanding the range of information that can be gathered remotely and supporting the evolution of inspection methodologies for maritime and offshore assets.