Japanese carrier Mitsui OSK Lines has announced plans to install cameras and an AI system in the cargo holds of most of its LNG-fuelled car carriers to provide early fire detection capabilities.
The devices, developed by Israeli-headquartered Captain's Eye, will be installed on 10 vessels currently on order and scheduled for delivery in 2024 or later, and the company will consider retrofitting current in-service vessels with the system.
It sends an alert to crew members onboard the vessel and to the onshore ship management company when it detects abnormal images captured by the cameras. All MOL car carriers are currently equipped with fire alarms (smoke detectors), but the AI-based system will enable faster smoke detection. In addition, images of the cargo hold can be viewed from both the vessel and on land, leading to a faster response in case of fire.
The systems are mainly used to detect abnormalities in the engine room and on deck and have been introduced on merchant ships and other vessels around the world. In collaboration with Captain's Eye, MOL has conducted demonstration tests of the AI system's smoke detection capabilities using cameras in cargo holds aboard the car carrier ONYX ACE. It has improved the system's functionality through multiple tests and has confirmed its effectiveness, including the successful detection of small amounts of smoke, according to the carrier.
