Kamaljee Mandal, Koushik Roy, Ritwik Ghoshal
Structural health monitoring of ship hull plays a crucial role in ensuring the safety and operational performance of naval vessels. The present study is the evolution of ship hull inspection methods, starting from visual techniques to modern non-destructive testing (NDT) methods such as ultrasonic testing, radiography, and electromagnetic techniques like eddy current and magnetic particle inspection. Recently, new technologies have come into play, especially fibre optic sensors, machine learning and artificial intelligence (AI), which have greatly improved the ability to monitor ship hulls in real-time. These innovations help to identify both surface and hidden issues, reducing the chance of serious failures. Also, a fibre-based health monitoring system has been developed to monitor real-time ship conditions. Additionally, underwater robots and climbing machines can be used to quickly monitor inaccessible areas. This comprehensive analysis of ship hull monitoring also highlights the benefits of using advanced sensor technologies for real-time damage detection, load monitoring, and operational optimization, ensuring structural integrity throughout the service life of a ship. Apart from the health monitoring of steel ship hull structures, the study also highlights the monitoring of composite structures, which are increasingly used in modern marine applications. The present study aims to show how these new technologies make it easier to find early damage, improve maintenance practices, and help design better ships in future.