Bureau Veritas showcases next-generation remote inspection at Posidonia with launch of Athens survey center in International Shipping News 22/05/2026 Bureau Veritas Marine & Offshore (BV) will launch its latest Remote Inspection Technique (RIT) center in Athens, Greece, during a Digital Solutions Seminar at Posidonia 2026. The event – How Bureau Veritas Digital Solutions Reduce Risk, Lower Cost & Enhance Asset Value – will bring together industry leaders to explore how digitalization is reshaping risk management, operational performance, and supporting asset values across shipping. The new Athens RIT center – which joins a network that has grown from five qualified surveyors in early 2025 to more than 15 across approximately seven global centers – highlights BV’s commitment to equipping shipowners and operators with data-driven tools as they navigate mounting regulatory and commercial pressures. BV plans to expand its RIT network to 16 centers with over 40 qualified surveyors by the end of 2026. RIT is a field-based methodology in which a trained surveyor deploys drone and UAV technology whilst onboard to inspect confined spaces such as ballast tanks and cargo holds, eliminating the need for physical entry into potentially hazardous areas. The approach is distinct from traditional remote survey engagements, which are limited to document review, conducted at a distance, and do not involve the physical presence of a surveyor aboard the vessel, which significantly impacts the scope of the survey. Safety and operational efficiency are central to the case for RIT adoption. Conventional ballast tank inspections require five to seven personnel to enter spaces that may contain toxic gases, extreme humidity, and temperatures reaching 50 degrees Celsius. BV estimates that RIT reduces confined-space entry risk by 60 to 70 percent, using a single qualified surveyor and a single-deck companion. Bureau Veritas Marine & Offshore (BV) will introduce its latest Remote In