DFDS’ ro-ro Selandia Seaways – which operates on a busy and challenging route – has been retrofitted with smart technology to provide 360° situational awareness
Smart Panoramic Edge Camera System (SPECS) eliminates blind spots by providing a 360° vessel view, in turn enhancing safety and efficiency, as well as enabling crew on board to make better operational decisions that are based on real-time data
Wärtsilä Voyage, part of the technology group Wärtsilä, has installed its cutting-edge SPECS solution onboard Selandia Seaways, a 197m ro-ro ferry owned and operated by DFDS, to augment crew situational awareness and enhance the safety and efficiency of its navigation and docking procedures.
Operating a congested route – often in challenging conditions, between Cuxhaven, Germany and Immingham, UK – Selandia Seaways was the ideal vessel for the initial deployment of SPECS.
Selandia Seaways’ crew have worked with Wärtsilä Voyage to ensure the SPECS user interface is simple and meet their needs.
The crew now benefits from a full overview of the vessel’s position in just one image, allowing for total focus on safety during critical procedures at the start and end of every voyage.
SPECS is a smart technology system, spanning cameras, augmented reality and data integration. The vessel was fitted with four robust super-wide cameras, providing 360-degree awareness, including a bird’s eye view, to eliminate blind spots.
Regardless of weather and available light, SPECS’ motion stabilisation, vibration cushioning, and automatic camera cleaning offers Selandia Seaways’ crew clear visibility.
The system’s calibrated grid also provides the exact distance between the vessel and the quayside and other objects in real-time, which is especially useful when docking.
