Milestone Systems, an open platform company in IP video management software (VMS), is highlighting an initiative lead by Last Mile Communication to fit ships and drill rigs with advanced video systems based on Milestone XProtect to improve safety in maritime working environments.

Together with the Norwegian naval service provider Westcon Power and Automation AS, Last Mile Communication is able to deliver an end-to-end video solution based on Milestone XProtect open platform technology, for use in the harsh nautical milieu. This is very different from most land-based solutions because all marine installations have to be able to withstand high levels of corrosion, vibrations, shock and extreme temperatures, while at the same time be highly resilient and provide non-stop operations.

The benefits of digital video in a naval context are numerous. There is the security aspect where video can be used to monitor and alert to safety issues for the crew on deck or below, using heavy machinery, and performing maintenance or during emergencies. The video views of crane operations in particular enable not only a higher level of safety but also assist the crane operators to work faster and more precisely as the video helps them see where loads are being placed. Equipment can also be monitored by thermal cameras to avoid overheating. Spills of oil or dangerous chemicals can be detected using video, as well. Video analytics can further be used to improve safety when thermal cameras detect objects in the water, for example, or to provide better customer service on passenger ships.   

Last Mile Communication has based their Maritime Vision System on Milestone XProtect Corporate VMS for a highly flexible solution that can easily be adapted to fit each customers’ requirements. The video solution consists of infrastructure components from Westermo and cameras from Siqura and Tecnovideo. Through encoders from Siqura the software can also control legacy analogue devices such as Hernis PTZ cameras.

“The Milestone open platform technology is the core for our design of the Marine Visual Systems solution, which is globally available now,” says Erik Sandsdalen, CEO at Last Mile Communication. “We have been able to create an extremely flexible and robust solution thanks to Milestone Systems technology. We are able to pick the optimal cameras and infrastructure elements for every situation.”

Milestone Systems has been actively supporting the Marine Visual Systems initiative from the very start.

“This is a fantastic example of the power and dynamics in the Milestone partner eco-system, enabling innovation like that of Last Mile Communication to address new business segment needs with the best available technology on the market – now and sailing forward,” says Lars Wilson, Nordic Sales Manager for Milestone Systems. “We are convinced that video enabling the naval market will have very big benefits for improvements in safety and operational efficiency.”