Effective Surveillance Upgrades for Vessels and Fleets

Updating the video management system on ageing or repurposed vessels can help improve safety, security and efficiency – ultimately ensuring their continued operation in a modern maritime environment. This blog explores how to achieve this cost-effectively, focusing on upgrades that will have the greatest impact.

Transition to an IP-based platform

The most effective first step is to transition to an open architecture, IP-based video management system (VMS).

This enables you to integrate multiple onboard systems and view navigation, communications, monitoring, access control, and fire detection through a single, unified VMS. Importantly, fleet operators can transition from their existing analogue CCTV infrastructure in line with operational needs and budget.

This transition also increases cyber resilience, a growing necessity in the maritime industry. Many older systems run on outdated software and no longer receive critical updates, leaving them unsupported and vulnerable to attack.

Reduce risk and resource pressures with at-sea analytics

By integrating onboard system data and AI-based video analytics into a single system, you can improve safety, security, and day-to-day operational efficiency.

This approach is especially valuable on vessels with smaller crews, as it reduces reliance on human resources and ensures that any issues are identified in real time, enabling quicker, compliant and consistent responses.

For example:

• Drill ships: Detect anomalies in critical drilling operations, such as pressure changes, equipment overheating, or unauthorised access to the drill floor, while integrating with drill chairs to provide operators with real-time, in-context insights for faster, safer decision-making.
• Oil, Gas, LNG, and LPG vessels: Spot signs of equipment degradation (hot spots), intrusions into hazardous process zones, and breaches of safety protocols.
• Container vessels: Strengthen cargo security by detecting tampering, intrusions into restricted areas, and verifying storage conditions.

Use solutions that keep crews responsive and fleets connected

Automated instructions based on real-time data and analytics will help ensure incidents are not missed, and the right people are alerted at the right time.

For example, the system detects a problem, from rising temperature in an engine room to a hazard on deck. Notifications can be sent using mobile solutions to alert the relevant crew, support services, or engineers. This immediately alerts qualified personnel to the issue, reducing response time and ensuring that when a human touch is needed, it happens quickly.

You can also ensure people off-vessel stay informed. Remote access provides fleet operators and shore-based teams with a clear view of vessel activity, giving them access to live and historical data.

This standardises incident review, informed decision-making, and reporting across the fleet, allowing specialist expertise and support to be actioned swiftly without the need for additional permanent headcount onboard.

¹ https://www.dnv.com/news/2025/Ageing-fleet-drives-surge-in-maritime-incidents/