MSC Cruises has launched an industry first man overboard detection system will roll out across the fleet over time.
MSC Cruises is now leading the way compared to other major cruise lines like Carnival and Royal Caribbean with a new man overboard detection system. The technology has been developed to intervene when a cruise ship passenger or crew member goes or falls overboard. This is an advanced industry-first video surveillance system developed in collaboration with global leaders in security technology.
Pierfrancesco Vago, executive chairman of MSC Cruises, said:
“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.”
“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.”
The new MSC Cruises system consists of a comprehensive shield of intelligent optical and thermal video cameras which provide nonstop comprehensive surveillance alongside the relevant exterior parts of the ship. All captured video images are streamed in real time to a Central Security Room where the video stream is monitored together with all other inputs from the 1,200 HD CCTV cameras on board the ship.
In case of alarm, an acoustic signal and light will alert the ship’s Security Officer in the Central Security Room who can immediately connect to the system and acquire all images and data and, if necessary, retrieve or review the relevant video images. With direct access to the ship command at the Bridge, the Security Officer can drive immediate action if necessary.
The new man overboard system is already implemented onboard MSC Meraviglia, the largest ship in the fleet which was delivered in June 2017. The technology will be rolled out across the fleet over time.