Statistical data show that in the past five years, there has been an 11.4 percent increase in passenger movements for cruise lines in the Mediterranean region. This is indicative of a consistent trend of endurance and stability in the Global Cruise Market despite the changing economy. While security on the ships has always been a major concern for cruise lines, it has never been more important to have an innovative and all-encompassing surveillance system in place to record evidence of possible crimes or unsafe behaviors.
There are now a host of maritime security issues that require an onboard security solution to enhance proactive strategies and security capabilities. Risks that cruise lines, passengers and crews now face include health and safety issues, lost children, theft, terrorism, incidents of passengers falling overboard and sexual assaults.
To combat these threats and efficiently manage incidents, there must be an improvement to total situational awareness. The best way to capture this is through updated video strategy and surveillance systems. In fact, regulations from the Cruise Vessel Security and Safety Act (CVSSA) of 2010 require ships to have a surveillance system in place.
In contrast to traditional fixed cameras, 360-degree fisheye technology offers innovative cameras and software that detects security breaches and expertly analyzes data to trigger the appropriate response. In the event of an emergency situation, it is important to have a clear understanding of the chain of events in real time to prevent safety emergencies and criminal incidents.
Advanced 360-degree solutions operate in the public areas of a ship, and unusual activity can be detected as it occurs for immediate action by first responders or officials. This technology can implement quick resolution to potentially tragic situations, and also provides recorded evidence for review and investigations. This enables continual improvement for future incident deterrence.
The capability to capture serious crimes is essential to safety and security, but minor incidents such as lost or stolen property, and wandering children, are just as important to provide efficient and proactive solutions. This enhanced onboard security in the form of 360-degree surveillance enables coverage of large areas with fewer cameras, allowing the crew to keep a close watch on large parts of the ship and to investigate incidents efficiently by focusing on different parts of the scene.