Maritime

Interface measurement technologies are commonly used in the maritime industry for testing and monitoring performance. Our products are known for quality, durability, and accuracy. From shipyard hoist and lift equipment to submersible vessel and engine testing, Interface sensors are built to withstand the challenges of extreme environments.

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MARINE TENSION LINE TESTING, RIGGING, HOISTING, OIL EXPLORATION, AND SUBMERSIBLE APPLICATIONS

Maritime Overview

As a complete solutions provider, we offer a variety of force measurement products designed for harsh environments and submersible applications. Our Interface expert engineers can help you design customizable solutions for all types of applications using our products designed for offshore, underwater, and splash zone locations.

harsh environments and submersible applications

As a complete solutions provider, we have a variety of force measurement products that are designed for harsh environments and submersible applications. Our Interface expert engineers can help you design customizable solutions for all types of applications using our products designed for offshore, underwater, and splash zone locations.

Interface load cells, wireless load pins, tension shackles, and tension links can be paired with our Wireless Telemetry Systems (WTS) for long distance tension testing, load testing, rigging inspections, and more.

maritime applications

Our load cells and sensors can wirelessly transmit data through underwater applications and harsh weather conditions. These load cells can survive underwater submersions at different capacities and still relay information to those at the surface level. Interface load cells can regulate harsh maritime situations such as underwater tension lines, underwater oil drilling, and storm and tsunami monitoring.

Our wireless load pins, load shackles, and tension links are ideal for sea applications. These products must be paired with our different wireless sensor transmitters, receivers, and handheld displays. Our Wireless Crosby Bow Load Shackles are used for mooring line tension testing and rigging inspections. Our load shackles are also interchangeable with our WTSTL Wireless Tension Link Load Cell. The WTS-BS-4 Wireless Industrial USB Base Station is a popular transmitter that gives outstanding coverage and can be easily paired with one of our handheld displays, such as the WTS-BS-1-HA Wireless Handheld Display for Multiple Transmitters or the WTS-BS-1-HS Wireless Handheld for Single Transmitters.

Our custom solutions team will work alongside you to create the most effective and efficient solution based on your needs.

Maritime Applications:

Maritime Videos:

Maritime_Infographic

Blue Economy

Interface solutions support the thriving and growing global blue economy by providing sensor technologies for exploration, research, energy production, sustainability, transport, and aquaculture activities.

Oceans cover about 70% of the planet’s surface, and would be the seventh largest economy in the world if it were a country. The blue economy emphasizes the economic potential of the ocean and other coastal resources, along with addressing other environmental long-term benefits.

Interface understands that maritime applications are some of the most complex because they require specially designed test and measurement equipment to handle the often-harsh environments in testing, monitoring, and ongoing operational use. This includes our line of products, such as our stainless steel, sealed, ATEX-certified, and submersible load cells, load pins, shackles, tension links, and wireless telemetry solutions.

Interface’s submersible and environmentally protected load cells and instrumentation can be used in various aspects of the blue economy, including applications in fisheries, cargo handling and shipping, mining, aquacultural monitoring, and offshore renewable energy.

Blue Economy Applications Using Interface Products:

Anchoring Systems for Offshore Structures
Fishery Operations
Maritime Cargo Handling and Shipping
Aquaculture Monitoring and Feeding Systems
Underwater Vehicles and Robotics
Offshore Hydro and Tidal Renewable Energy Production
Offshore Wind Farm Installation and Maintenance:
Harbors and Ports Equipment for Lifting and Weighing
Near-Shore Infrastructure Monitoring
Oceanographic Research
Underwater Construction
Habitat Restoration
Fishing Gear Monitoring and Optimization
Marine Salvage and Recovery Operations
Offshore Oil and Gas Platform Monitoring

The blue economy refers to creating ecological uses of the ocean’s resources to protect the marine life that dwells deep and have us land dwellers become a part of preserving the ocean’s ecosystem.

Interface Blue Economy Capabilities and Solutions

Stainless steel and rugged load cell designs are for extreme temperatures and climates.
Environmentally sealed products used in submersible environments
Bluetooth and wireless data acquisition and instrumentation for safety monitoring
Custom solutions based on safety and regulatory specifications
Customized load pins, load shackles, and tension links for hoist and lifting applications

Our Interface expert engineers can help design customizable solutions for blue economy applications using our products designed for offshore, underwater, and splash zone locations.

BlueEconomy_Infographic

Ports

Maritime ports are facilities along coastlines worldwide where vessels and ships dock to load and unload cargo. These ports and terminals are important for global trade and transportation. Interface’s sensors and instrumentation are used for various port equipment and machinery used offshore, underwater, and in splash zone locations.

Due to the environment, safety requirements, and regulations for maintaining core operations of ports, quality sensor devices must withstand unpredictable environmental conditions, including complete submersible use cases. Interface plays a vital role as a supplier of measurement solutions designed for maritime use. Our rugged weighing and force measurement products are designed for durable operation in areas that utilize waterways to transport goods from port to port.

Interface offers an extensive line of products commonly used in port and terminal applications of all types, including our high-accuracy load cells, load pins, load shackles, tension links, and wireless instrumentation. Our products are perfect for precise load measurement during lifting operations, cargo handling, cargo weight monitoring, mooring line monitoring, and general port equipment maintenance.

Port and Terminal Applications Using Interface Products:

Container Weighing
Ship-to-Shore Crane Load Monitoring
Ship Stability Testing
Quick Release Hooks (QRH)
Mooring Line Tension Monitoring
Dockside and Terminal Equipment
Container Handling Machines
Ship Loader Booms and Unloaders
Gantry Crane Safety Monitoring
Straddle Carriers
Conveyor Belt Design, Test and Measurement
Reach Stacker Automation
Terminal Tractor and Vehicle Testing
Heavy Equipment and Forklift Maintenance and Monitoring
Dock Scales
Wind Speed and Environmental Monitoring Systems
Equipment Alarm Systems for Loading
Tugboat Tests and Maintenance Equipment

Load cell technologies ensure the safe and efficient operation of various port equipment by measuring the weight, tension, and compression forces exerted on different components, allowing operators to make informed decisions and prevent accidents. Integrated seamlessly into various machines and systems, our devices provide highly accurate, real-time data to save costs, improve productivity, and keep workers and cargo safe.

Aquaculture

Aquaculture is the breeding and harvesting of fish, shellfish, algae, and other organisms in all types of water environments, salt and fresh water.

The aquaculture industry is estimated at $200 billion and is projected to grow. It is a crucial source of seafood globally. Driven by rising demand for fish, crustaceans, and mollusks and the limitations of wild-caught options, this sector is experiencing steady growth.

Challenges like environmental concerns and competition from traditional fishing, stocking, and feeding methods require innovative solutions for sustainable future development. Aquaculture that relies on sensor technologies for marine and freshwater systems can manage practices that reduce negative environmental impacts using precision measurement solutions.

Interface’s load cells can wirelessly transmit data through underwater applications and harsh weather conditions. These load cells can survive through underwater submersions at different capacities and still be able to relay information to those at the surface level.

Interface load cells can regulate harsh maritime situations such as fish farm mooring lines, fish cage monitoring, feed management, and fish weighing in real-time.

Aquaculture Applications Using Interface Products:

Aquaculture aims to restore habitats and wild stocks and rebuild endangered species and populations. It also aims to cultivate aquatic plants for food, pharmaceuticals, and other purposes. Interface works to help supply submersible, subsea, and ruggedized load cells, load pins, tension links, and instrumentation to facilitate growth and opportunities in aquaculture.

Shipbuilding

Maritime industry sectors require sensor technologies that withstand the adverse requirements of the exposure to sea and subsea elements. In the intricate world of shipbuilding, where precision and safety reign supreme, load cells, torque transducers, and ATEX certified solutions have become indispensable tools.

These technologies empower shipbuilders to monitor and control critical forces, ensuring structural integrity, optimizing performance, and safeguarding both personnel and the environment. Interface, a global leader in force measurement solutions, has been at the forefront of providing shipbuilders with innovative technologies that meet the unique challenges of this demanding industry.

The global shipbuilding industry is a multi-billion-dollar market. The sector is driven by the increasing demand for maritime trade and the need to replace aging fleets. As vessels become larger and more complex, the need for accurate and reliable force measurement solutions becomes even more critical.

Load cells and torque transducers play a crucial role in ensuring the safe and efficient construction and operation of ships, contributing to the overall success of the industry. Interface’s commitment to providing high-quality, ATEX certified solutions further reinforces its position as a trusted partner for shipbuilders worldwide.

Shipbuilding Applications Using Interface Solutions

Hull Strength Testing: The hull of a ship must withstand various forces, including those from waves, cargo, and other environmental factors. Force sensors and strain gauges are used to measure the stresses and strains on the hull materials during testing.

Model Testing in Towing Tanks: Scale models of ships are tested in towing tanks to measure hydrodynamic forces, such as drag, lift, and wave resistance. Force measurement devices help optimize the ship’s design for better performance.

Full Scale Sea Trials: Monitoring forces during operation helps detect anomalies that could lead to structural failures or other accidents, enabling preventive measures.

Accident Prevention: During sea trials, forces acting on the ship are measured to verify that the actual performance matches the predicted performance from the models.

Interface Products Used by Shipbuilders

Load Cells
Mini Load Cells
Load Shackles
Load Pin Load Cells
Tension Load Links
Hazardous Environment Sensor Solutions
Torque Transducers
Wireless and Bluetooth Telemetry Systems
Multi-Axis Sensors
Instrumentation and Digital Instruments

The shipbuilding industry requires certain certificates and approvals such as the ATEX certification. Our hazardous environment products such as the ITCA tension and Compression Load Cell, ICPA Stainless Steel Compression Only Load Cell, and LP Custom Stainless Steel Load Pins all meet ATEX requirements. These products are also backed by IECEx and North American certifications, further validating their safety standards.

Our ATEX-certified sensors are made from high-quality materials and have special seals to prevent dust and moisture ingress, making them suitable for harsh maritime environments. They are designed to function properly even in demanding conditions such as shipbuilding.

There are high demands measurement solutions that reliability function with accuracy and that withstand extreme environments and harsh waters. Interface has a variety of measurement products that are designed or customized for submersible and harsh environments for use in lifting, weighing, force, and torque applications.

Interface’s force measurement products are integral for every stage of shipbuilding, from design and testing to construction and operation. We want to ensure ships are safe and reliable before launching. Interface understands all areas of a ships performance and supports the production of ocean vessels for merchants or military purposes.

Maritime Defense Vessels

Governments, ship makers, part suppliers and naval vessel engineers conduct continuous research and testing of maritime defense vehicles. Testing these defense vessels, components and prototypes designed for naval warfare and maritime security.

Accurate force measurement is essential for validating the structural integrity of modular components, optimizing the performance of unmanned systems, and ensuring the safe operation of advanced propulsion systems.

Types of Maritime Defense Vessels

Surface combatants: Destroyers, frigates, corvettes, and littoral combat ships equipped with weapons systems for anti-surface, anti-air, and anti-submarine warfare.
Submarines: Nuclear-powered and conventionally powered submarines for stealthy operations, intelligence gathering, and strategic deterrence.
Amphibious warfare ships: Vessels designed to transport and land troops, vehicles, and equipment for amphibious assaults.
Mine warfare vessels: Minesweepers, minehunters, and mine countermeasures vessels for detecting and neutralizing mines.
Auxiliary vessels: Replenishment ships, support ships, and other vessels that provide logistical support to naval forces.
Unmanned vessels: Autonomous or remotely operated vessels for surveillance, mine countermeasures, and other tasks.

It is critical when it comes to ensuring the vessel structures, apparatus and systems function properly and as intended while docked, at sea and underwater. Maritime applications are unique because force sensors need to be specifically designed to withstand nearshore and offshore harsh environments.

Interface provides products that have been used for withstanding the rigorous requirements of seafaring conditions. Maritime defense vessel manufacturers and field users rely on our quality products to ensure their vessels are fully operational. Interface is a long-time supplier for sensors and instrumentation needed building and monitoring sea vessels of all sizes. We offer a wide variety of submersible and wireless load cells, DAQ, and instrumentation products. Our rugged load shackles, load pins and tension links are very popular for maritime testing and monitoring.

Maritime Defense Vessels Applications using Interface Products:

Weight Measurement: Load cells measure the weight of the vessel, including payloads and equipment, ensuring it meets design specifications and stability requirements.
Stress Testing: During tests, load cells can monitor forces exerted on various components, helping to identify weak points and ensure structural integrity under operational conditions.
Ballast Testing: Load cells are used to assess ballast systems, ensuring the vessel maintains proper buoyancy and stability when loaded or during operations.
Dynamic Load Measurement: In sea trials, load cells can capture dynamic loads experienced during maneuvers, such as acceleration, deceleration, and turning, to evaluate performance and safety.
Quality Control: Load cells help in quality assurance processes during the manufacturing and assembly of vessels by ensuring that all components meet specified weight and load criteria.
Equipment Testing: They are also used to test onboard equipment, such as weapon systems, ensuring they operate correctly under expected load conditions.

The increasing complexity of modern naval vessels, driven by trends like AI integration, unmanned systems, modular design, cybersecurity enhancements, and green technologies, demands highly precise test and measurement solutions.

By providing accurate and reliable data, Interface enables shipbuilders and naval forces to confidently deploy these cutting-edge technologies, ensuring operational readiness and maritime superiority. Our products are used for monitoring underwater tension lines, seaborne components and material testing, boat and ship engine testing, equipment durability and safety regulation monitoring, lift capacity measurements, and tsunami monitoring.

Interface understands that experimenting, prototyping, and testing defense maritime vessels are necessary sending these vessels out to sea. We provide sensors and instrumentation for each phase of the R&D journey.

MaritimeDefense_Infographic

Hydrofoils

Advancements in hydrofoil design are revolutionizing watercraft of all types by enhancing speed, efficiency, and maneuverability across various vessels. Hydrofoils generate lift and reduce drag, allowing boats, ships, and autonomous waterborne vehicles to achieve higher speeds while reducing fuel consumption.

Creating an optimized hydrofoil requires balancing lift generation and structural simplicity. Engineers refine these designs through hydrofoil tank testing, where real-world conditions are simulated in a controlled environment. Accurately measuring forces, torques, and weight is essential for refining hydrofoil performance, ensuring stability, and preventing unwanted effects such as cavitation.

Interface products used in hydrofoil testing and performance monitoring include:

LowProfile Load Cells
Mini Load Cells
Torque Transducers
Multi-Axis Sensors
Load pins, load shackles, and tension links
Instrumentation
Wireless Telemetry Systems
Custom and engineered-to-order sensors

Interface offers products that are designed to withstand harsh marine environments for long-term reliability. Wireless telemetry and real-time data acquisition solutions enhance hydrofoil testing and performance evaluation.

Interface’s load cells and force sensors play a vital role in this process, enabling engineers to analyze performance factors, optimize stability, and validate computational models.

Load cells measure these forces at various speeds and angles of attack, helping engineers fine-tune hydrofoil shapes for optimal speed, efficiency, and stability. Lift and drag forces are measured directly, providing detailed insights into the hydrofoil’s aerodynamic and hydrodynamic behavior.

To ensure safe handling, engineers assess hydrofoil stability by measuring how it responds to forces and moments. Load cells and torque sensors help analyze pitch, roll, and yaw tendencies, allowing designers to refine hydrofoil control in different water conditions. This ensures predictable and reliable performance.

Hydrofoil Test and Performance Monitoring Applications

Hydrofoil development and innovation using force measurement impacts several types of maritime vessel applications, including:

High-speed ferries are faster and more efficient when using sensor research and testing to improve lifting the hull out of the water. This significantly reduces drag, enabling rapid transit.
Competitive sailing requires groundbreaking hydrofoils to set new records. Using load cell technologies, testing of hydrofoils leads to enhanced speed and maneuverability, giving teams a competitive advantage.
Surface effect ships (SES) combine hydrofoils and air cushions to achieve exceptional speeds. The data from our sensors, combined with instrumentation, guides engineers through continuous improvements and performance.
Autonomous underwater vehicles (AUVs) rely on high-performance sensor technology. Developing hydrofoils with integrated measurement solutions provides submersible vessels with depth control and stabilization.

Hydrofoil technology is shaping the future of high-speed, energy-efficient watercraft. Interface’s precision load cells and force sensors empower engineers to push the boundaries of hydrofoil performance, ensuring superior speed, efficiency, and stability. Whether in racing, transportation, or autonomous marine applications, Interface measurement solutions are driving innovation in hydrofoil design.

Wave Energy

Ocean waves are a vast and untapped source of clean, renewable energy. Along U.S. coastlines alone, the theoretical wave energy potential could supply up to 63% of the nation’s utility-scale electricity generation (based on 2023 data). As the blue economy accelerates, tapping into wave energy is becoming a crucial piece of sustainable energy.

But the ocean can be a harsh place. Strong forces, corrosion, and constant movement can make it a challenging setting for energy innovation. That’s why developers of wave energy converters (WECs) need tools that are not only precise but also built to survive extreme conditions. Interface provides a full range of rugged, high-accuracy force, torque, and weight sensors engineered specifically for marine energy applications. Our solutions are designed for durability in harsh onshore, nearshore, and offshore conditions.

Interface Measurement Solutions for Wave Energy

Design Validation & Structural Testing: Interface’s LowProfile™, mini, multi-axis, and submersible options—support structural testing and real-world validation of WECs, helping ensure long-term reliability and performance.
Research & Development: Our submersible tension and compression load cells provide essential force data, giving engineers the insight needed to optimize energy capture mechanisms and boost efficiency.
Mooring and Deployment Monitoring: Submersible load shackles measure mooring line tension to ensure stability and safety during operation. These tools help confirm that devices remain properly anchored in dynamic ocean environments.
Operational Monitoring in Real Time: When connected with signal conditioners, our sensors enable continuous remote monitoring, offering operators real-time visibility into forces acting on marine systems—critical for both performance and safety.
Wireless Telemetry in Harsh Conditions: To avoid the complications of marine cabling, Interface offers wireless load cells, pins, shackles, and tension links designed to transmit data reliably—even underwater or during storms.

Common Applications

Mooring and tether force monitoring
Load testing of platforms and hinges
Wave impact and actuator force measurement
Subsea structure weight and stress analysis
Deployment system load feedback
Material and corrosion fixture testing

Interface is proud to be a trusted partner in the renewable energy space. Our sensors don’t just deliver industry-leading accuracy—they enable the innovation needed to make wave energy a viable solution for the future.

Offshore Production

Land, air, and sea are the arenas where Interface force measurement force sensors operate to test, validate, and optimize equipment and operations. Energy exploration, operations, and production offshore pose the most complex and high-stakes challenges.

Interface has long been at the forefront of delivering trusted sensor solutions to support the maritime and offshore production sectors, where performance and safety must be ensured in some of the harshest conditions on Earth. Interface is your partner in precision measurement devices and instrumentation from the ocean floor to floating platforms.

Offshore production environments require absolute reliability. Load cells and force sensors must operate flawlessly, even after being submerged in saltwater or exposed to severe storms and heavy mechanical stress. Interface offers submersible and ruggedized products for force, weighing, lifting, and torque measurement, designed explicitly for splash zone, submerged, and topside offshore applications.

Standard Offshore Product Offerings from Interface

Wireless Technologies for Offshore Applications

Our wireless load pins, load shackles, and tension load links are ideally suited for remote and mobile offshore operations. Paired with our advanced wireless telemetry systems, these devices provide real-time force measurement without a hardwired connection, an essential benefit in corrosive, space-constrained, or high-movement environments common in offshore facilities. Examples of our broad line of wireless products ideal for offshore use cases include:

Wireless Crosby Bow Load Shackles are ideal for line tension testing and offshore rigging operations.
WTSTL Wireless Tension Link Load Cells offer ruggedized construction and high precision for lifting and hoisting tasks.
WTS-BS-4 Wireless Industrial USB Base Station providing exceptional signal coverage from the ship deck to the control center.
WTS-BS-1-HA Wireless Handheld Display for Multiple Transmitters and WTS-BS-1-HS for Single Transmitters offer real-time monitoring in the field or on deck.

Supporting the Future of Offshore Energy Operations and Production

There is a growing demand for offshore solutions related to the growth in energy production at sea. The offshore energy sector is experiencing rapid evolution, especially in deepwater oil and gas exploration, wave energy research, and offshore wind development, so robust measurement tools are critical.

Offshore Applications for Interface Measurement Solutions

Interface measurement sensors and instrumentation are already embedded in systems supporting offshore energy production projects. Interface products used in offshore applications include:

Offshore platform stability monitoring
Subsea riser stress measurement
BOP (Blowout Preventer) system load tracking
Wind turbine base and blade stress evaluation
Load and safety testing for floating production storage and offloading units (FPSOs)
Crane and lifting equipment, safety monitoring
Drilling equipment operational measurement
Weighing and scale measurement solutions
Mooring and tension line testing and monitoring
Structural testing
Tool and equipment testing and maintenance

Our ruggedized sensors, specifically designed for hazardous environments, not only withstand offshore conditions but also deliver accurate, real-time data that informs safety systems, enhances operational efficiency, and drives predictive maintenance. Whether measuring tension on deepwater mooring lines, monitoring load on subsea lifting devices, or tracking the weight of materials transferred from vessel to rig, Interface solutions provide reliability and precision measurements.

Interface is a top choice for measurement solutions designed for maritime and offshore production companies, thanks to our legacy of engineering excellence, application-specific customization, and proven product performance at sea.

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Maritime

MARINE TENSION LINE TESTING, RIGGING, HOISTING, OIL EXPLORATION, AND SUBMERSIBLE APPLICATIONS

Maritime Overview

harsh environments and submersible applications

maritime applications

Maritime Applications:

Maritime Videos:

Blue Economy

Ports

Aquaculture

Shipbuilding

Maritime Defense Vessels

Hydrofoils

Wave Energy

Offshore Production

Maritime Applications

Additional Resources

Maritime Solutions from the IQ Blog

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Industry Solutions

Product Applications

Interface Guides

Custom Solutions

Company Overview

Maritime

MARINE TENSION LINE TESTING, RIGGING, HOISTING, OIL EXPLORATION, AND SUBMERSIBLE APPLICATIONS

Maritime Overview

harsh environments and submersible applications

maritime applications

Maritime Applications:

Maritime Videos:

Maritime Applications

Additional Resources

Maritime Solutions from the IQ Blog

Interface Products used in Maritime

WTS 1200 Standard Precision LowProfile Wireless Load Cell

1200 Standard Precision Universal LowProfile Load Cell

1100 Ultra Precision Universal LowProfile Load Cell

2400 Standard Stainless Steel Low Capacity Universal Load Cell

3200 Precision Stainless Steel Universal Load Cell

3A Series 3-Axis Force Load Cells

6A Series 6-Axis Standard Capacity Load Cells – Fx Fy Fz Mx My Mz

WTS-AM-3 Wireless 4-20 mA Transmitter Module

WTS-RM1 Wireless Relay Output Receiver Module

WTSLP Wireless Custom Stainless Steel Load Pin

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