Competition of the future – work of NDT inspectors and ships at offshore wind farms

Today we will bring together three key roles related to working at offshore wind farms: wind turbine inspector, ship inspector and NDT inspector. These positions play an important role in maintaining quality and safety at offshore wind farms and their proper operation.

Wind Turbine Inspector: Quality Master in Wind Energy

Working in wind energy can be not only fascinating, but also incredibly satisfying. Wind Turbine Inspector is a highly qualified specialist who plays a key role in maintaining quality standards in building and maintaining wind turbines.

In this profession, the worker must have extensive technical knowledge of the technical expertise associated with specific turbine models and know the principles of their operation. Key in his work are the ability to read technical documentation, which is the foundation for conducting inspections. The ability to solve problems individually and collectively is also important in this position.

The work of wind turbine inspectors to carry out inspections is necessary at different stages of the project life cycle. Their aim is to ensure reliability, safety and efficiency. Inspections shall be carried out at each point in the supply chain to verify the quality of the components and before the end of the guarantee to ensure that any warranty and contractual obligations of the manufacturer are met.

Main elements checked during inspectionThese include gears, bearings, main shafts and partitioning systems (tested by endoscopy), propulsion system and shovels (tested from the ground, tower or drone), as well as generator (tested by isolation test). In addition to these elements, additional inspections are also carried out, such as oil and lubricant analyses.

Wind turbine inspector plays a key role not only in quality control but also in determining the causes of damage. Thanks to its knowledge and experience, it is able to perform a source analysis (RCA), which aims to determine the reasons for the failure. It is crucial to assess the ubiquity of causes throughout the wind project and to clearly define mitigation measures.

The role of wind turbine inspector is to indicate areas that do not meet the standards, specifications, contract requirements or installation instructions and to assign corrective action to them. In the event of technical problems, the inspector is in direct contact with the management and design department, participates in their resolution and implementation.

Working as a wind turbine inspector is a position for people who value work full of challenges, but at the same time for people with high precision and retail accuracy.

Ship Inspector – Invaluable guarantee of quality and safety standards in offshore and offshore elevators

The ship inspector specialises in inspecting vessels in accordance with accepted international standards and guidelines, e.g. the International Marine Contractors Association. These inspections are carried out in both offshore oil & Gas and offshore wind, which has been developing rapidly in Poland for several years.

The area of competence of the Ship Inspector is very wide. From knowledge about ship building and its systems, through expertise on international classification requirements and standards, to the practical experience of inspectors during their work on vessels of various types and in different industries.

The inspector's main duties include: checking of ship equipment and systems for compliance, checking of ship records, checking of crew competence. The inspection of the vessel shall be completed by preparing a report containing the inspector's comments and any observations to the shipowner.

In order to become an inspector of a ship, it is necessary, in particular, to have adequate experience in the maritime sector (e.g. a graduate of a sea school), to complete professional training and obtain appropriate certificates and accreditation.

Inspections of vessels are carried out according to adopted standards, e.g. the Common Marine Inspection Document for IMCA inspections.

The primary purpose of these inspections is to verify that the vessel concerned complies with the safety, environmental and safety requirements of its personnel. Inspection of the vessel should be properly planned and carried out in cooperation with the ship owner.

Only an AVI (Accredited Vessel Inspector) may carry out an inspection of the ship according to IMCA standards.

The role of ship inspectors is essentialin the offshore and offshore elevator industries. Their knowledge, experience and competence allow for a fair assessment of whether a given floating unit is capable of working and meets international requirements for its operation and safety at work.

This is an interesting alternative primarily for experienced captains and deck officers, although officers from mechanical and electrical departments also find themselves in this role.

NDT Inspector at Marine Wind Farms

Non-destructive research inspector NDT is another profession in the offshore wind energy industry. Its task is to carry out specialized quality control of components, structural components of wind turbines, which are crucial for the safety and reliability of offshore windmill structures. The NDT inspector's knowledge and skills are essential when assessing the quality of welding and steel products used in offshore wind farms such as forgings, castings and profiles.

Non-destructive testing (NDT) by the inspector shall be carried out at different stages of production and operation of wind turbines:

1. At the production stage: To ensure that components such as welds, forgings, castings and profiles meet the required quality and safety standards.
2. At the assembly stage: Controls are made to assess the quality of the assembly of turbines, including the quality of welding and joints.
3. During the exploitation phase: Inspections are carried out regularly to monitor turbine condition and detect potential problems.

The frequency and specificity of these controls may depend on specific design requirements and industrial standards.

Non-destructive tests carried out by the NDT inspector are intended to detect potential defects, such as cracks, corrosion or erosion, which may affect the strength and functionality of offshore windmill structures. Through the use of a variety of research methods and techniques, the NDT inspector identifies and evaluates these defects, allowing for appropriate corrective and preventive action.

The NDT inspector working on offshore wind farms must have expertise in non-destructive research and be certified in accordance with international standards. Many years of professional experience and practice are essential to achieving a high level of competence. The NDT inspector must also be well aware of the regulations and standards on the safety of marine windmills and know the specificity of work in this unique environment.

Non-destructive tests, also known as NDT (Non-Destructive Testing), are methods of controlling materials or structures that do not damage the test element. This makes it possible to detect any defects or damage without affecting the integrity of the test object. NDT methods include ultrasound, radiographic, magnetic-powder or thermographic research. They are particularly valued in sectors where safety and reliability are crucial, such as wind energy on land and sea.

Written by Mariusz Dasiewicz