Shocking Debut for Ship Security System

Secure-Ship was initially a response to a request from Jumbo Shipping, the Rotterdam based heavy lift operators, to provide a ship security system for their vessels, which were often anchored in remote locations around the world.

Secure-Marine located a supplier of land based systems for prisons and military bases who was able to adapt the technology for a maritime application.

Secure-Ship is an intrusion detection and deterrent system which surrounds a vessel with 9,000 volts of electricity running through wires around the perimeter at deck level. A five wire fence on collapsible poles makes unwanted boarding very difficult indeed. The non-lethal system is intended to prevent theft and robbery while a ship is anchored or berthed, piracy attacks while underway, hostage taking, stowaways and terrorist activity.

The marinised system has been installed and tested successfully at sea, providing full detection in force 7 conditions while unperturbed by saltwater, waves, rain, or extremes of heat and cold. In addition to electrical shocks, detection triggers industrial floodlights and sirens to further discourage would be intruders. A Memtel control unit can deactivate zones for pilot entry, lifeboat launch, gangways etc. Port and starboard zones enable activation of one side of the ship while the other side is deactivated, useful when moored alongside in a port or harbour.

Following its debut in New York almost exactly a year after September 11th, Secure-Ship is now being evaluated by both military and commercial shipping interests. The system is also being adapted for port protection, to create secure smart fencing at low cost.

MJ Information No: 17504