MARITIME

“... since the monitoring network was installed, we have recorded
a sudden drop in temperature of 8°C in just 5 minutes
at the port of Armadale on the Isle of Skye, and a maximum
wind gust of 96 knots at Castlebay on the Isle of Barra.”
RLS, a non-contact sensor employing
pulse radar technology with a large 35m
measurement range.
Both the RLS and the weather sensors,
which have no moving parts, have extremely
low power consumption, which
is vitally important for installations at
remote sites. At two locations it was not
possible to install a radar sensor so an
OTT CBS (bubbler sensor) was installed
providing comparable levels of accuracy
and reliability.
Now that the CMAL monitoring system
is installed, McHardie is looking for
ways to leverage the value of the data.
For example, radio data transmission
works well over water, so it should be
possible to fit the same technology on
ferries so that the ferry Masters can access
the data directly, instead of having
to call the port office for a verbal update.
The OTT monitoring network also incorporates
an email alert system, and whilst
this has not yet been configured, it will
be possible in the future for ferry masters
to receive email alerts warning them
when pre-specified port conditions arise.
“We would also like to eventually
make the data available to the public as
part of an enhanced harbors information
system,” McHardie said. “However,
when a ferry has berthed, with the monitoring
system being located on the pier,
the vessel can cause a wind shadow;
which means the wind data during that
period can be potentially misleading. It
has to be remembered that this system
remains only an aid to navigation.”
(Continued from page 27)
Remote monitoring and control capability
sending sensor data and control
messages over low-bandwidth radio and
satellite links provide owner/operators
of platforms an additional surveillance
capability.
Conclusion
A primary goal of a robust SA system
is to sharpen the operator’s perception of
the surrounding environmental elements
with respect to time and/or space. Experienced
operators of robust SA systems
find them essential to surveillance, detection,
classification, identification and
potentially prosecution of a target. Engineering
companies that provide software
that produces organized data fusion
from multiple sources essentially create
a reduced operator workload, enhanced
decision-making and essential mission
management.
Essential concepts for developing a
maritime surveillance system are provided
in this article. A review of some of
the key points are provided below:
• The first challenge in developing
maritime surveillance systems is
understanding and defining the customer’s
problem and performance
requirements.
• Determining the most appropriate
sensors and sensor placement for
the surveillance system requires
seasoned sensor integrators.
• Each sensor has specific capabilities
and limitations. The multi-type sensor
approach will achieve consistent
performance under all conditions.
• A surveillance system secure from
interceptors, or cyber attacks is paramount.
• Ongoing customer support generates
a valuable feedback loop. Experienced
operators can provide
SA system improvement requests
contributing to tailored system enhancements.
• Multi-mission support capability
using a set of processing and display
filters allow each operator to see the
pertinent information they have requested
for their mission.
• With a worldwide movement towards
minimal manning and the
need to provide 360 degree protection
for vessels and offshore platforms,
the future in maritime security
systems lies in sophisticated
alerting capabilities.
The Author
Marianne Molchan is President of
Molchan Marine Sciences (MMS) and
a retired Navy Commander. MMS supports
the development, evaluation and
implementation of maritime safety and
security technology systems for clients
worldwide.
www.marinelink.com 29