Mitsui O.S.K. Lines (MOL) has decided to install cameras and an Artificial Intelligence (AI) system developed by Israel-based maritime safety and management system developer Captain’s Eye in the cargo holds of most of its LNG-fuelled car carriers.
The devices, which are expected to provide early fire detection capabilities, 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.
The Captain’s Eye AI system 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, 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.
Captain’s Eye AI 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, and has decided to install the Captain’s Eye system on car carriers.
