Sensor Integration Platform and user interface
Common Operational Picture for emergency response
Sensor Solutions
Environmental Monitoring
NORBIT Aptomar began by developing the best possible tools for marine oil spill detection, containment and recovery operations. Our SeaCOP solution rapidly became the Norwegian national industry standard and best practice for oil spill contingency plans. The SeaCOP platform has subsequently advanced to encompass a broader range of environmental monitoring applications for the maritime industry.
Sustainable operations are paramount for all stakeholders in the maritime industry and has become a mandatory operating requirement world-wide. Environmental monitoring is an important aspect for vessels involved in critical operations as well as in day-to-day port operations. To meet these demands, NORBIT Aptomar has expanded our SeaCOP system by integrating a wide range of additional functionality. This includes weather reports, real-time metocean parameters, the detection of pollution from sensors below, on or above the sea surface. The earlier the detection of emissions results in faster responses to mitigate the damage and identification of the source.
By integrating all the data into one display improves user experience and requires less training than having to manage multiple software systems. The SeaCOP system has also been designed to share data across multiple devices within the enterprise to ensure everyone who needs access to the data has it in a rapid and reliable manner.
Maritime Security and Law Enforcement
Maritime security is a very broad term, but will normally refer to mitigation of threats such as:
- Maritime inter-state disputes
- Maritime terrorism
- Asset protection
- Piracy
- Trafficking of narcotics, people, and illicit goods
- Illegal fishing
- Environmental crimes
- Maritime accidents and disasters
Global threats are ever increasing and people, assets and environment must all be safeguarded.
The SeaCOP multi-mission decision support tool enables maritime law-enforcement organisations to integrate sensor data into one common operational picture that can be shared among stakeholders. Stakeholders, in this context, being on-scene commanders and their assets as well as shore-based control centres. It is well-documented that a common operational picture creates the basis for an efficiently coordinated operation by enhancing the communication between the involved parties.
Anti-intrusion operations are not only reserved for military purposes, it is required for civilian infrastructure as well. A company providing cruise tourism needs to ensure that all passengers are safe; a port needs to ensure that all visiting vessels are safe; and, a FPSO or an oil rig must make sure that it’s operation can continue without interrupts. Such operations have become potential targets for intrusion, and safeguarding measures are important and necessary.
Maritime Surveillance and Vessel Monitoring
The SeaCOP solution provides the functionality expected from an advanced Maritime Surveillance System, using Commercial-Of-The-Shelf (COTS) sensors, such as marine radars, cameras, and sonars, thereby enabling a wide range of deployments, including offshore platforms, coast guard vessels, coastal areas, waterways, and ports. The SeaCOP aggregates all data received and then can distribute that information to all concerned users, whether that is within the Port itself or to users globally.
In an increasingly complex maritime security sector, security operators need to focus on important events through an easy and intuitive user interface. Tomorrow’s operators may not have many years of experience onboard ships as navigators but are in many ways even better prepared with years of experience with software applications and different types of user interfaces integrating large amounts of sensor data. The human ability to digest digital information faster and more precisely is increasing with this new generation of operators. NORBIT Solutions has considered this when designing our Maritime Surveillance decision support Common Operating Picture solution. NORBIT SeaCOP offers efficient and safe decision support for marine security operators to identify potentially dangerous situations and then rapidly respond. The SeaCOP system can be deployed for a wide range of applications, some examples being the monitoring of vessels transiting over critical subsea infrastructure to prevent anchor strikes or the deployment of NORBIT’s GuardPoint™ intrusion detection sonars for underwater threats. All data is presented on the SeaCOP system, including guard zones and intrusion alarms, for rapid interpretation and response.
SeaCOP is an ideal partner system for common Vessel Tracking Systems (VTS / VTMIS), providing enhanced small target detection, both above and below the water. SeaCOP can either operate alongside the VTS or NORBIT can assist in sharing targets from its enhanced detection SeaCOP sensors to the VTS for a fully integrated Common Operating Picture.
The SeaCOP solution is highly flexible and will benefit organizations of all sizes. It also integrates with NORBIT’s Environmental Monitoring solutions for Oil Spill Detection and Wave Monitoring, making it a unique solution that takes the global marine security challenges seriously.
Camera Station for Ships
The NORBIT Aptomar SECurus system is a high-performance, multipurpose camera system, tailored for the maritime environment. The SECurus offers functionality and performance normally only found in military graded camera systems, all available in a COTS ITAR-free package.
Key Functionality
- Stabilization in 6 degrees of freedom
- High resolution, long range thermal and daylight sensors
- Target detection and tracking
- Powerful xenon searchlight
- Augmented reality; merging of sensor data and map information for enhanced decision support
- Rugged design, easy service and maintenance
- Fully integrated in the multipurpose SeaCOP Situational Awareness and Decision Support operator interface
Operator Interface – SeaCOP
The SECurus range of EO sensor stations are fully integrated with the SeaCOP sensor and decision support platform. SeaCOP is an intuitive and easy-to-use interface that provides enhanced situational awareness and a common operational picture (COP). SeaCOP combines powerful process and decision support tools, integrating sensors and sensor platforms such as AIS, cameras, radars, sonars, drones, satellite data and more. The sensors and data sources are all integrated, processed and fused in real-time, giving the operator an unmatched situational awareness. For the operator, earlier warning results in having accurate and up-to-date information to take appropriate decisions and initiate effective counter measures.
Camera Stations for Shore-based Applications
The NORBIT SeaView series is a family of flexible and reliable multi-sensor systems, giving the industry access to an unmatched situational awareness sensor, available in various range, performance and price classes. SeaView is designed for shore-based installations. SeaView can be outfitted with a large number of short, medium or long range sensors, such as cooled and uncooled thermal imaging, polarimetric cameras, daylight and low light cameras.
NORBIT SeaDarQ Oil Spill Detection Radar
Using a high resolution marine X-band radar, the NORBIT Aptomar SeaDarQ System can automatically detect and monitor oil spills on the ocean surface. Using a combination of fast update rates, high horizontal resolution and low detection limits, the SeaDarQ oil spill system meets industry best practices and is in use worldwide protecting the marine environment. Oil spills are detected automatically, and the advanced algorithms identify even the smallest spills and reduce false alarms to a minimum.
Features
- Oil spill detection in low visibility and darkness
- Fully automated with low false alarm rate
- Range up to 4nm, based on radar height and weather conditions
- Automatic detection with spill outline and area determination
- Calculate the position, area and drift of the oil slick
- Historical playback of potential and verified detections
- Integrated with any camera system
- Integrated with ENC map, AIS and ARPA targets
- Tested and verified by NOFO and EMSA
How does it work?
OSD Radar Processors monitor the presence of capillary waves, caused by the wind passing over the water surface. It does this by detecting the radar backscatter caused by the uneven water surface. This back scatter is filtered out of normal navigation radar to give a clear image of large, hard-edged targets. Oil floating on the water surface suppresses the capillary waves, this in turn provides no backscatter to the radar. When an OSD Radar processor detects an area with no capillary waves it alarms as a possible oil spill.
OSD Radar will then measure the area of the suspected slick and will go on to calculate the speed and direction of drift of the slick.
To be operational, the radar needs wind between 2 and 12 m/s. The combo of OSD radar and EO camera provides a superior solution as each remote sensor strength compliments the weakness of the other. To measure relative thickness, the most cost efficient is using infrared camera systems, cooled or uncooled.