13.10.2014, 20:20:31 (GMT+1)

Anti-piracy software to safeguard ship security

New technology offers vessels 24/7 remote-control ship surveillance

Figures show the number of pirate attacks against ships worldwide have fallen markedly in recent years.





At the peak of this disturbing problem in 2010 there were 445 incidents of piracy or attempted attacks on vessels. By 2012 the number had decreased to less than 300 and so far in 2014 there have been only 72 attacks by pirates on merchant ships on world seas.



Contemporary maritime piracy statistics show the regions most at risk of attacks include Indonesia, Nigeria and Somalia. Strategic passages for oil transport such as Bab-el-Mandeb, near Somalia, and the Strait of Malacca off the Indonesian coast are notorious targets for maritime crime. In Somalian waters at least 150 crew members were held hostage in 2011 and more than 100 pirates were killed – mostly by naval forces including armed guards who have become a vital protective presence on ships to ensure their safe passage through high-risk waters and piracy ‘hot spots’.



Risk management business Dryad Maritime, which provides intelligence services to ship companies and merchant fleets, reports that despite a worldwide fall in incidents, attacks on tankers in Southeast Asia have increased this year. More than 30 vessels have come under attack and UK-based Dryad Maritime expects gangs and criminal syndicates will continue to target small product tankers with the intention of stealing their marine oil cargo for the black market.



Industry figures show that more than half of piracy and armed robbery attacks on vessels at sea succeed because of ‘human mistakes’ and people’s failure in lookout and threat-response duties. Now a UK company, MATRiX RsS (Remote Sentinel Systems) has developed new technologies which can protect and increase ship safety by moving lookout and vessel security responsibilities onshore.



An incredible breakthrough now makes it possible for shore-based personnel to remotely and covertly see, communicate with and take control of any vessel worldwide whether in port, at anchor or on the open seas. MATRiX technicians have solved progress-blocking problems concerning ultra-low bandwidth remote data acquisition to install previously impossible anti-theft and piracy systems and enable remote data acquisition of vital ship systems – all in real time.



The new ship-mounted remote sentinel system provides anti-theft and anti-piracy technology and includes a remotely-controlled, non-lethal Capsaicin fog release and propeller fouling system to prevent unauthorised boarding and to deter unwelcome small boats getting too close.



Because conventional video streaming is not an option, the MATRiX system computers on-board the ship take images from two high pan speed thermal imaging cameras to construct a 360° image mosaic. This is compressed and transmitted to a land-based office – to provide a remote but constant 360° thermal image around the ship “from hull to horizon”. The system can monitor all areas and key functions including perimeter access, bridge controls, engines and propellers, refrigeration and cargo systems. It links directly to a fleet broadband satellite for remote data acquisition and provision, enabling real-time transmission worldwide.

The system also integrates into the ship’s radar, public address and video systems. It can communicate with wireless camera and sensor technology up to five kilometres (three miles) away. Data is transmitted onshore for display on a standard internet browser.



Technicians say their innovative software provides the closest-possible solution to a 100 per cent, round-the-clock, ship-wide detection and monitoring system. There is also another important feature. MATRiX developers have produced a non-lethal, anti-boarding deterrent which, they claim, is a simple, yet highly-effective solution to deter assault craft and pirates getting close enough to board a ship.



It works by a proprietary fouling system and Capsaicin-releasing pod being attached at frequent points around the ship perimeter. Pods are integrated with micro-receivers and cameras, providing a 24/7 video feed with the bridge and onshore monitoring centre via satellite technology. Capsaicin is the active ingredient in pepper spray which causes severe, albeit temporary, irritation to the eyes. It is used extensively in policing, riot control and personal self-defence.



The pods and Capsaicin cartridges can be aimed, controlled and activated either by crew on the ship bridge or by those watching developments unfold in the onshore monitoring centre. Although the distress caused by contact with Capsaicin is only temporary, developers believe it will act as a strong deterrent. Protocol for its use will be for all crew to move into a secure area inside the ship before the pods are activated. After use, any Capsaicin residue can be disposed of easily and safely.



Developers are confident they have created a two-pronged defence system which will provide peace-of-mind assurance for captains and crew. Apart from guaranteeing an early warning of potential attacks, the anti-theft and piracy system is, says MATRiX, “a last line of defence – being able to covertly hear, see and communicate with crew during a hijacking and, where circumstances permit, take control of the vessel.



“Then there is a tactical defence system that takes the fight out to the pirates and stops them without lethal force before they are a lethal threat to your ship.”



The main photo shows a boarding team from USS Whidbey Island approaching merchant vessel Golden Nori with food and provisions after pirates released the Japanese chemical tanker in December 2012.

Sources:

http://matrix-rss2.net/GB/index.htm

http://matrix-rss2.net/GB/index_Warning.htm

http://matrix-rss2.net/index_Spec.htm

http://www.dryadmaritime.com/maritime-crime-figures-q3-2014/