Ship protection / anti-piracy

SHIP PROTECTION / ANTI-PIRACY SOLUTION


Wide Area Surveillance Main Challenges

  • Very long-range sea surveillance
  • Automatic detection of all threats at anchor and beyond
  • Detection and tracking of all boats (including undetectable ones by radar)
  • Approaching swimmers and capsized personnel detection and tracking
  • Image stabilisation
  • Harsh and corrosive environment
  • Vibrations
  • Glare / wave interference

The SPYNEL panoramic camera solution for ship protection

Spynel thermal imaging cameras are the only ones capable of displaying a wide, 360-degree field of view, with very high resolution and a long detection range, without distorting or splicing images. They are similar to optical radars, but are able to detect threats that are invisible to radar, such as wooden boats. The system is capable of detecting skiffs up to the horizon.

Spynel is operational at sea up to levels 5/6 (rough to very rough seas) thanks to an autonomous gyrostabilised platform. In addition to mechanical stabilisation, the images displayed by SPYNEL are stabilised using algorithms that depend on the sea state. This integrated image processing ensures a minimum false alarm rate and effective distinction between small distant boats and waves.

SPYNEL benefits for piracy fight and ship protection

360-degree panoramic field of view
Spynel panoramic infrared camera continuously acquires 360-degree HD images. By scanning the environment at a rate of one revolution per second, Spynel reacts to movements and the emergence of new threats in real time.

Automatic intrusion detection and tracking
Cyclope, Spynel’s image analysis software, constantly scans for threats, tracks intruders and follows their movements, in all directions, simultaneously. Panoramic, ring or radar views give the operator a clear overview for greater efficiency.

High-resolution thermal images
Spynel’s Band II and Band III infrared cameras offers high thermal sensitivity in all conditions, day and night. Spynel can detect variations of a few mK on any pixel. This sensitivity, coupled with a spatial resolution of several mega-pixels, gives an exceptional range, even on the smallest targets.

Robust in all conditions
Spynel has been designed to withstand highly corrosive environmental conditions, such as salty water and fog. The system also withstands the wide range of vibrations transmitted by the superstructure of ships, such as vibrations caused by the engine, wind and the impact of seas on the hull.

Fully passive system
Spynel systems are passive and undetectable, unlike radar, which emits electromagnetic waves.

Scene and environmental analysis
Cyclope has been designed to learn and understand natural changes in the environment, in order to minimise false alarms. Reflections from the sun, sea movements and objects carried by the wind are analysed and ignored by the intrusion detection algorithms.

Gyro-stabilisation platform
Mounted on ships, Spynel panoramic infrared cameras are paired with a specially designed gyro-stabilisation system. This platform reduces the effects of ocean movement and ship vibrations, to maintain high image quality.

A proven solution
Spynel camera’s detection are installed on military vessels (frigates), and can be used on helicopter carriers or customs patrol boats to combat drug trafficking and control illegal immigration. Commercial cargo ships, oil tankers and mega-yachts can also be fitted with Spynel.

Ship Protection Main points
Wide Area Surveillance
checked
Smaller Boats Detection
wave
Suitable for rough seas
Other products