Sony safeguards Canary Island Shipyards

ASTICAN (Astilleros de Canarias S.A.) is a private company whose work consists of repairing, maintaining and converting all types of boats. ASTICAN is implementing a Sony intelligent video surveillance solution to guarantee the safety and operating efficiency across its network.

This particular project was managed by Ralicom, an IT and telecommunications provider that specialises in network installation and software development. The keystone of the Sony video surveillance system provided for ASTICAN was the installation of a total of twenty IP cameras throughout the premises, both inside and outside.

ASTICAN’s requirements were a major challenge for Sony. According to Vicente Alonso, manager at Ralicom, “Astilleros de Canarias covers a huge area and is located in a very hostile environment, being right next to the sea.”

Functionality was another major priority, and IP technology was chosen as the best solution thanks to its ability to manage office entry, boat access and any possible accidents from a single control station, avoiding the need for operators at the company to make continuous rounds. The complex infrastructure at ASTICAN, the applications covered by the video surveillance system and the environment in which it is located (external conditions) meant that Sony had to provide a spectacular security system, the purpose of which was to monitor the perimeter of the premises, the activities of the company's operators, and the devices taken onto the boats.

The Solution

The backbone of the Sony video surveillance system provided for ASTICAN was the installation of a total of twenty IP cameras throughout the premises, both inside and outside. Given the huge area to cover, Ralicom needed 3,000 metres of fibre optic cable to connect the whole yard.

This advanced camera system stands out for its sturdy design, for the quality and reliability of the images produced and for the ability to process them without the need for a recorder, something that is not possible with traditional video monitoring systems. The manager of Ralicom attests to the value-added benefits of the IP system, saying that “unlike analogue video, the intelligence of IP cameras lies in the actual camera, which carries out a large part of the work". The efficiency of the system, together with its value for money, makes it easy to understand the rapidly increasing popularity of IP surveillance technology.

The Sony IP cameras have been in operation at Astilleros de Canarias for one year. The Head of IT at the company confirms that they have been a great help in several different situations. Among the many improvements that they have brought to the surveillance of the premises, he highlights the ability to access data in real time, record it and monitor every corner of the large area covered by the shipyards.

Juan Alberto Mirabal has described some specific cases when the presence of the IP technology was fundamental to ensuring the security of ASTICAN. “Throughout the year the cameras have detected fires, operating accidents and even thefts, and the images recorded were very useful evidence for the police.”

Installed equipment

Due to varying operational requirements, the twenty camera installation uses three different models. The SNC-RZ50P is an intelligent Pan/Tilt/Zoom camera that offers a variety of advanced features, including Intelligent Motion Detection that analyses movement over the last 15 frames to detect only significant motion. This reduces false alarms from environmental noise such as shaking trees, waves or random noise from AGC (Auto Gain Control).

The SNC-CS50P cameras, also used outdoors, provide high picture quality and increased sensitivity, even when it is dark. It breaks new ground by incorporating Intelligent Motion Detection, Intelligent Object Detection and anti-tampering functionality.

Within the yards, the Sony SNC-CS11P cameras combine high performance network video surveillance with features such as Motion Detection and pre-/post-alarm recording. This camera can produce high resolution images and deliver excellent colour reproduction capabilities. For further efficiency in operating a network video monitoring system, it offers a simultaneous access capability, a multicasting feature, and a choice of network security functions such as IP filters and password protection.