Hull Roughness Gauge

Monitoring the hull roughness of a marine vessel plays a significant role in terms of operating costs. Hull roughness typically increases due to corrosion, pitting, plate undulation, mechanical damage, dry spray, and most commonly, biological fouling. Proper maintenance and correct application of high-quality antifouling coatings reduce hydrodynamic effects, thereby lowering fuel consumption and CO₂ emissions.

Hull roughness directly affects a vessel’s fuel consumption and operating costs, as increased roughness raises friction, leading to speed loss and higher fuel consumption.

Hull roughness is measured during port inspections. The Gauge measures the AHR (Average Hull Roughness) value of seagoing vessels. AHR is the average of all hull roughness readings across the entire ship.

Device Features

The TQC Sheen Hull Roughness Gauge consists of a control unit and a sensor unit. The control unit is single-handedly operable; a 4-way button navigates the menu displayed on a large illuminated screen. A neck strap provides hands-free operation when needed.

The whole system is conveniently delivered in a small rugged, waterproof case and can be carried as travel luggage simplifying any overseas travel plans considerably.

The sensor unit is equipped with three anti-slip wheels and a carbide-tipped stylus and is moved horizontally across the ship’s hull to collect a series of readings. A set of LEDs indicates the device’s status, enabling operation without the control unit if necessary.

Statistics for each series of measurements, including time, date, location information, and reading values, are automatically calculated and stored in the control unit. Using the included USB cable and software, the measurements can be transferred to a computer and reported in Microsoft Excel®.