CCTV System for Ship

[antigon 0]

We need to purchase a CCTV for a ship.

 

The cameras will be installed in the engine room to primarily monitor for fuel leaks when the engine spaces are unmanned.

 

The engine room tends to get very warm in the summer time.

 

We need a the capability of remote control and monitoring from the bridge which is eight decks up and a few hundred feet away and possibly to a few other areas between the two.

 

It would also be convenient to use a modulator to broadcast the video over a TV channel on the ships entertainment system. We also have digital set top boxes attached to TVs so IP CCTV may be possible.

 

 

There are a large number of options, color vs BW, switches vs matixes or multiplexers, vcr vs dvr, ip vs analog.

 

 

I do not want to run a large number of cables to the bridge. Simplicity and reliability are important.

 

Any advice or opinions would be appreciated regarding system design, type of equipment, suppliers, or pitfalls to be avoided.

 

 

Many Thanks

 

steve

[scorpion 0]

Boats, and ships are out of my league. My first concern is the explosion possibility in the engine room. I know you do not have gas leaks, or fumes, but I wanted to ask if we have to take this in to account.

 

We may need to put the cameras in to a "case" so that if there are fumes any electical low voltage will not cause damage.

 

A picture of the area would be of help. I did not know how large the ship was. I did not know if this is a walk in engine room, or under a bulk head.

 

I do not know any of the Coast Guard, or other maritime laws that may cover this kind of installation.

[antigon 0]

Thank you for your reply. Cases for the cameras probably would be a good idea te keep out the dust and oil. There are areas where explosion proof, "intrinsically safe", equipment is necessary but this is not one of them. The engine room is a large area covering three decks.

 

The reason we need the cameras is because the space is not manned at night.

But since most people are asleep at that time having monitors in the decks above is not very useful. I have seen monitors on the bridge turned off at night because it interfered with the mates night vision.

 

I am wondering if a pc based dvr might be a good solution. I have seen on some websites that an alarm can be activated when there is a change in the video display. That would be very useful. I wonder if it could detect fuel spreading across the floor for example.

[scorpion 0]

How big are the pistons on this thing? WoW!

 

How many cameras will you put in this compartment?

 

Do you already have a wireless network set up for the boat? Do you have a wired network already established?

[kensplace 0]

Personally I would not use CCTV for detecting fuel leaks, with a large area (although I have no idea how large exactly, but 3 decks sounds big) you would need a lot of cameras to get good coverage of all areas that fuel could leak into.

 

Even then, its dubious that a motion detection system on a dvr would pick up a puddle of fuel that is slowly creeping across the floor, as the motion is likely to be very gradual I would imagine (unless its spurting tons of fuel everywhere!). Plus, I would imagine a engine room has a fair bit motion in it anyway that could set of a motion trigger, unless you masked them out so it ignored motion there.but its possible some of those areas could be the areas that leak.

 

If the monitors are likely to be turned off, or ignored then the system would have to be very reliable, and not produce false alarms often, as if the people on the bridge are already totally ignoring safety concerns, they will probably just start ignoring a motion alarm if it produces to many false positives.

 

Personally, I would be more concerned about the crew on the ship, and the fact they are bypassing safety features etc, than fuel leaks. Safety is pretty important, and if there is a crew that is turning off monitors at night that should be left on, I would be getting a new crew before they cause a tragic accident.

 

As for the leaks, as it is on a ship, and is probably covered by countless rules and regulations, not to mention the need to get it 100 percent right, I I would look into a specialist firm that does leak detection, I googled the following term

 

oil fuel leak detector -gas

 

and found one that may be of use (of course, it may not, I dont know the exact specifics, or even much about leak detection!) which seems to offer a leak-detecting cable that you can lay around problem points to sound a alarm when a leak occurs, and to pinpoint the leak.

 

You could maybe lay the cable along the pipes and around parts of the engine that are prone to leaks. Maybe have one running around the base of the engine, as a catch all.

[rory 0]

You also might want to contact Extreme CCTV and see if their cameras have been used in any projects like this in the past.

[CollinR 0]

I would use an IP based system, then any PC can monitor it.

 

I dunno about using normal water/flood sensors as fuel detectors, that concerns me. However there may already be a sensor for this.

[scorpion 0]

Hello Antigon!

 

I am glad that we are able to put a lot of "cards" on the table for you to look at!

 

Now you can make an informed decision!

 

Question:

 

Will you be paying for this out of your own pocket?

Will the ships captain be paying for this?

Will the ships owner be paying for this system?

 

If you are paying for this out of your own pocket, will you need to get the ship owner's permission to install it?

[antigon 0]

I appreciate the responses. Of course there are other systems installed to detect problems. The CCTV is extra.

 

There will be eight cameras in the engine space and one watching the stack above deck.

 

The ship owners are paying for it.

 

I talked to Geovision today and it sounds like what I am looking for. I like the idea that it is easily expandable by plugging in another IP camera.

It has other nice features too.

 

I will need some good high definition color cameras to be mounted inside cases with an internal blower fan to help cool it.

 

Does anyone have any suggestions for cameras that would be reliable in an environment that gets over 100F during the summer?

[keno 0]

I know that Elbex cameras are used by some yacht companies to monitor the engine room and other parts of the ship.

[Bryann 0]

 

 

I do not want to run a large number of cables to the bridge. Simplicity and reliability are important.

 

 

You can consider wiring your cameras using CAT5E network cable, and video balun signal converters. We have done multiple installations using this method. It allows you to run up to 4 cameras on 1 cable - with less interferance than traditional RG59 coaxial cable. The cable can be spliced, joined, and teed-off in different directions with almost zero loss in signal strength. This would greatly reduce cabling around the ship.

[VST_Man 1]

stay away from a PC Based system.....unless your staying in port...."USS Neversail"

 

I'd use CAT5 with analog cameras.............4 port balun in the engine room. 1 PTZ (mini) with 3 armor dome low light. I'd then use powered splitters (splitters may cut down on cable run if Loop out is not located near) to provide monitors where required and spot monitors to critical areas. I'd extend the VGA from the DVR via 50ft. VGA enxtension and also entend the remote via IR extender.

 

Go with AC power mate.

 

DVR..16 channel.............check out Avermedias newest standalone Hybrid. Gives you the best of both worlds......analog & IP

 

Semper Fi

[nilakarthik 0]

I had executed a project like this.but not in the ship.Its in the steel manufacturig plant.sorrounding area in the camera location is very hot.We had installed the water colled camera Housing(NXW).Its a videotec product.water inlet, water outlet pipe lines to be provided.air inlet also available to prevent the dust falling on the front glass of the camera housing.

[Lolo Wolf 0]

I would suggest that you investigate Industrial/machine pro rated gear for your application as well check all your codes and liability data with your insurance writer, any and all retofit/work onboard should be done with extreme caution and worked from a approved plan. here is one such source you can look at http://www.industrialvideosolutions.com/systems.html