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The TQC Sheen Hull Roughness Gauge (DC9000) measures Average Hull Roughness in microns to ±5μm accuracy - so ship operators, drydock surveyors and coating manufacturers can quantify hull condition, predict drag and validate coating and cleaning investments.
£5,320.00 Ex. VAT
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Manufactured by our TQC Sheen brand, the TQC Sheen Hull Roughness Gauge (DC9000) is a portable, handheld gauge for measuring the Thickness Testing and roughness characteristics of ship hulls. It measures Mean Hull Roughness (MHR) using the Peak-to-Trough method, then calculates the Average Hull Roughness (AHR) for the whole series – the primary reference metric used across the marine industry for hull condition assessment.
Used by ship operators tracking fuel efficiency and CO2 emissions across their fleets, ship builders performing hull QC before coating application, ship repairers and drydock operators running pre and post surface preparation surveys, and marine coating manufacturers verifying anti-fouling coating performance claims – the DC9000 delivers a graphical hull map, batch storage across 4 complete ships (10,000+ readings total), and USB export to PC for Excel-based reporting.
Hull roughness increases with corrosion, pitting, plate undulation, mechanical damage, dry spray and biofouling – each of which increases hydrodynamic drag and fuel consumption. Monitoring hull roughness before and after each drydock lets operators quantify the ROI of anti-fouling coating selection, hull cleaning, and pre-drydock surface preparation. Waterproof carrying case and one-handed operation via neck strap keep the gauge working across long drydock survey days with a TQC Sheen Spare Protective Pouch for repeated shipboard use.
Defensible AHR data at ±5μm accuracy. The greater of ±5μm or 2% accuracy against the calibration plate means AHR readings stand up under drydock contract audit, coating manufacturer warranty disputes, and internal fuel efficiency reporting.
Marine-grade rugged construction, extended survey battery life. Waterproof rugged case, three non-slip wheels and a carbide tipped stylus on the sensor, plus 20 hours battery life with backlight ON (200 hours OFF) on 4 x AA batteries – keeps the gauge working through full-day drydock surveys with no proprietary charger required.
One-handed operation with neck strap – hands-free where it counts. Sensor and control unit separate (sensor 630g, control unit 350g), four-way directional push button and neck strap free the operator’s hands for climbing, crawling and moving between survey points across the full hull.
The TQC Sheen Hull Roughness Gauge supports hull surface roughness assessment aligned to ISO 8503 (Preparation of steel substrates before application of paints and related products – Surface roughness characteristics of blast-cleaned steel substrates) and marine coating manufacturer verification protocols.
Our hull roughness gauge is easy to operate with a four-way directional push button. It offers graphical representations for storing measurement data when they’re taken; data can be stored in multiple batches and be analyzed offline using reports in Microsoft Excel.
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.
A hull’s roughness is measured ideally at dry dock entrance and after hull treatment just before dry dock exit.
The hull roughness control unit can be operated with just one hand. Plus its neck strap keeps your hands completely free when required for e.g. crawling and climbing.
The sensor unit is equipped with three non-slip wheels and a carbide tipped stylus. The wheels record the distance covered over the ship’s hull while collecting precise measurements.
Statistics including the time, date and location of each series of tests, plus the average hull roughness, are automatically calculated. Your results are stored in the control unit and can be used to create instant inspection reports in Microsoft Excel via a USB-cable. You can even add company logos and other details to create bespoke reports.
Download the DC9000 companion software from the Industrial Physics support page. Data captured on the gauge exports via USB serial to PC, generating hull inspection reports in Microsoft Excel format with your company logos and drydock survey details added. Point-and-click graphical hull display makes it fast to locate specific measurement points against the ship’s outline.
When you enquire about the TQC Sheen Hull Roughness Gauge, our TQC Sheen specialists will confirm your typical survey conditions (drydock, in-service moored, or new-build hull QC), coating manufacturer specifications you report against, and whether you need spare calibration plates or protective pouches for multi-site or fleet-wide use.
For purchasing teams, we provide the SKU (DC9000), quotation turnaround and technical documentation for internal sign-off. Delivery timelines are confirmed against your drydock schedule so the gauge and calibration plate arrive before the survey window opens.
Every TQC Sheen Hull Roughness Gauge is supplied with a 1 year parts and labour warranty as standard – our Industrial Physics group commitment across all brands. Because the gauge sees repeated shipboard and drydock use, spare Spare Calibration Plate for periodic verification, replacement TQC Sheen Batteries (4 x AA per gauge), and the Spare Protective Pouch are stocked for immediate dispatch. To arrange service, calibration verification or spares, contact our support team.
Beyond the warranty period, the Industrial Physics global service network provides advice on interpreting AHR data against coating manufacturer specifications, integrating the DC9000 into a fleet-wide fuel efficiency monitoring workflow, and calibration verification against your quality management system.
Online Range
Durable, high-performance batteries available in AA (DI4040), AAA (DI4041), 9V (DI4030), and LR44 (DI4042) formats—ideal for powering your precision instruments and testing devices.
Online Range
A precise calibration plate designed for use with the TQC Sheen Hull Roughness Gauge. Essential for maintaining measurement accuracy.
Online Range
A protective pouch tailored to safeguard the TQC Sheen Hull Roughness Gauge during transport and storage.
SKU: DC9000
Applications: Abrasion Testing, Corrosion Testing, Thickness Testing
Materials: Metal, Paints and Coatings
Accuracy: the greater of +/- 5 microns or 2%
Memory: four complete surveys, totaling over 10,000 readings
Location storage: point and click graphical display of the ship’s hull
Units: microns
Speed: 50 mm/s
Measurement range: 0 – 3.000 µm
Interface: USB serial to PC connection
Power supply: 4 x AA batteries
Sensor depth: 205 mm
Sensor width: 80 mm
Sensor height: 40 mm
Sensor weight: approx. 630 g
Control unit depth: 200 mm
Control unit Width: 115 mm
Control unit Height: 40 mm
Control unit weight: approx. 350 g
Minimum sample size: 50 × 50 mm
Battery life: 20 hours with backlight ON / 200 hours with backlight OFF
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The Hull Roughness Gauge measures the average hull roughness (AHR) of a ship’s hull in microns – the point peak-to-valley height profile of the hull surface. Roughness increases with corrosion, pitting, plate undulation, mechanical damage, dry spray and biofouling, and higher roughness increases hydrodynamic drag – which directly increases fuel consumption and CO2 emissions across the vessel’s operating cycle. For ship operators, ship builders, ship repairers and coating manufacturers, monitoring AHR is how you quantify the return on hull cleaning, dry-docking intervals and coating selection decisions.
Average Hull Roughness (AHR) is the mean Peak-to-Trough surface roughness of a ship’s hull, expressed in microns. It is the primary reference metric used across the marine industry to quantify hull condition, predict fuel-consumption penalties from drag, and verify anti-fouling coating and hull cleaning performance. The DC9000 measures Mean Hull Roughness (MHR) at each survey point using three non-slip wheels and a carbide-tipped stylus dragged across the hull surface at 50 mm/s, then calculates AHR across the whole series of readings.
The DC9000 measures from 0 to 3,000 μm with accuracy of the greater of ±5 μm or 2% of reading. Measurement speed is 50 mm/s, and the minimum sample size is 50 x 50 mm. The gauge stores four complete surveys – over 10,000 readings total – with a point-and-click graphical display of the ship’s hull for location storage. Data transfers to a PC via USB serial connection. Power comes from 4 x AA batteries giving 20 hours with backlight on or 200 hours with backlight off – suitable for full-day drydock surveys without swapping batteries.
The DC9000 stores four complete hull surveys totaling over 10,000 readings. Each survey is tagged against a point-and-click graphical display of the ship’s hull for location traceability. Data exports via USB serial cable to a PC, where the companion Windows software generates Microsoft Excel reports with time, date, location and average hull roughness for each series – you can add company logos and drydock-specific details to create dedicated inspection reports.
Yes – a precision calibration plate is supplied with each Hull Roughness Gauge for verification against a known reference before survey work. A TQC Sheen Spare Calibration Plate is available if the original is lost or damaged. The DC9000 companion Windows software is available for download from the Industrial Physics support pages – it manages survey data, exports readings to PC for reporting and archive, and supports both 32-bit and 64-bit Windows environments. For servicing or calibration verification against your quality management system, contact our support team.
The DC9000 ships with the sensor unit, control unit, calibration plate, USB cable, batteries, manual and carrying case. A TQC Sheen protective pouch designed specifically for the Hull Roughness Gauge is available separately for tailored transport and storage protection between drydock surveys – useful when the gauge moves between multiple vessels or operator sites. Every DC9000 is supplied with a 1 year parts and labour warranty as standard – our Industrial Physics group commitment across all brands.
Typical dry-dock use involves scanning multiple pre-defined survey points across the wetted surface of the hull – forward, mid and aft sections, port and starboard, and near propellers and rudders where roughness patterns often differ. The gauge stores each reading against the graphical hull map so results can be compared before-versus-after cleaning, or over successive drydocks to track long-term roughness trends. The sensor unit (205 x 80 x 40 mm, approximately 630 g) is separate from the control unit (200 x 115 x 40 mm, approximately 350 g) – so an operator can hold the sensor against the hull with one hand while the control unit sits on a lanyard or clipped to a belt.
Verify the gauge against the supplied precision calibration plate before starting each survey and periodically during long sessions. A TQC Sheen Spare Calibration Plate is available if the original is lost or damaged. For calibration verification against your quality management system or coating manufacturer contract requirements, contact our support team.
Battery life is 20 hours with the backlight on, or 200 hours with the backlight off, powered by 4 x AA batteries. That comfortably covers a full-day drydock survey without swapping batteries. AA batteries are stocked as spares – see TQC Sheen Batteries in the AA format. No proprietary battery pack, no charger, no downtime while a battery cycles.
Impact testing evaluates a material’s ability to absorb energy without fracturing, ensuring critical components like hulls or deck plates can withstand collisions and rough conditions.
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