by Donald Wood
Last updated: 9:00 AM ET, Wed October 11, 2017
MSC Cruises announced Tuesday that it is launching a new vanguard video surveillance system.
The integrated surveillance system will improve onboard security and speed up how quickly crew members detect a person or object falling overboard
It was developed in collaboration with Bosch and Hewlett Packard Enterprise and is an industry first. The system had a pilot phase of extensive stress-testing and software upgrades. It is now operational on MSC Cruises' latest flagship, the MSC Meraviglia.
To help the cruise line provide better safety and security for passengers, the surveillance system will utilize optical and thermal video cameras alongside the relevant exterior parts of the ship. The footage is streamed in real time to a central security room on board the ship.
Officials from MSC Cruises, Bosch and Hewlett Packard worked for more than a year to develop equipment that not only stands up to the harsh conditions of being at sea but also provides crew members reliable and accurate data.
The improved system consists of two phases that cut down on the error margin for false alerts.
"The security and safety of our guests and crew on board has always been our highest priority. Therefore - as innovation has been from day one central to the way in which we operate and develop new features for our ships - we have developed a highly-innovative solution that, through the use of military-grade technology, will allow ship command to take immediate action if needed," MSC Cruises executive chairman Pierfrancesco Vago said in a statement.
"While a ship at sea is a challenging environment for accurate video security monitoring and operating high-tech equipment, our teams have managed to successfully develop a system that is at the same time accurate, stable and reliable."
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In the case of a person or object falling overboard, an acoustic signal and light will alert the central security room, which will allow security officers to analyze the situation immediately and develop a plan of action.
Over time, similar integrated surveillance systems will be developed and deployed for all of the ships in the MSC Cruises' fleet.
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