Top Security and Entertainment on AIDA Cruise Ships with Milestone Video Software.
Ensuring passengers a safe holiday
The use of Milestone video management software (VMS) on AIDA cruise ships ensures
the passengers a safe holiday and provides the security department with a user-friendly
tool for keeping a high level of security. As the final touch the video is also being used to
entertain the cruise ship guests.
Safety is paramount onboard AIDA’s cruise ships which is why the first security cameras
were already installed in the early 90’s. Back then, the security solutions were based on
analogue systems which has become outdated. “Our system was an old closed circuit
system that could no longer be extended,“ explains Lars Orfert, Safety Officer at AIDA.
Instead of a centralized solution, AIDA had individual video security systems at each
cruise ship which was confusing for the staff and difficult to maintain. All in all, their ex
-isting video security solution needed an upgrade to help them reach their goal of having
the best possible security at the cruise ships. “We wanted to convert to the newest tech
-nology to be able meet the most advanced requirements for safety management. A good
support package was also important to us. So, overall there were a variety of reasons why
we chose to replace our old system with a new one,” says Lars Orfert.
Old and new technology integrated
In their transition to IP video technology, AIDA chose software from Milestone Systems,
the leading developer of open IP video management software. Milestone Partner Stanley
Security installed Milestone XProtect Corporate to manage the cameras at all AIDA cruise
ships in one centralized solution. New Axis IP cameras were installed at the vessels, but
it was also a requirement from AIDA that their existing analogue cameras should be
utilized in the new IP solution. Stanley Security solved that issue by integrating the old
cameras into the new system with a video encoder.
If a camera is out of order, AIDA uses mobile devices such as a tablet or a smart phone
to keep the system running. That is possible with the Milestone Mobile application that
allows users to use a mobile device as a camera and gives users access to video from the
remaining cameras when they are on-the-go: “If we have a repair done, we fix it in an
iPod,” explains Lars Orfert“.
Safety comes first: equipment, navigation and fire protection
All AIDA’s vessels was upgraded to the system in one year: “The implementation of the
new system at all ships in just one year was a big challenge for us, but it all went well
thanks to the good corporation between all parties involved,” says Lars Orfert. The Mile
-stone solution has proven its worth leaving AIDA pleased with their surveillance system:
“Upgrading to Milestone software was definitely the right step for us to take, we are very
satisfied with the quality.”
The primary reason for upgrading to the new IP video management system was to
ensure optimal security which is why most of the cameras are installed at the heart of
the ships – the engine control rooms. Here, they constantly monitor the condition of the
equipment and if there is a technical fault, the AIDA personnel can check up on the issue
before arrival through the XProtect Smart Client interface.
Cameras are also positioned at bow and stern to support the crew when navigating in
the ocean. The captain uses the cameras when docking for example – similar to when a
car-driver is using the rear view camera when parking at a parking lot. Besides navigation
and control of equipment the system is also used in AIDA’s fire protection efforts. When
a fire detector goes off the system will automatically send video from the camera that
is connected to the respective fire detector. This feature saves valuable time since it’s
possible to quickly estimate if it is a false alarm or a real emergency before the security
personnel arrive at the site.
Easier daily operations and entertainment for guests
The uniform Milestone software is also helping AIDA become more efficient: “You have
to understand that the crew of a ship changes in regular intervals. With the Milestone
system employees no longer have to constantly adapt to a new system which is saving us
a lot of time” says Lars Orfert.
Finally, the passengers not only benefit from a higher level of safety, the surveillance
system also provides them with entertainment: “on our onboard TV we show the video
from several areas such as the pool area or the very front at the bow. In that way our
passengers can see what is going on at the deck, follow their journey or keep an eye on
their cars,” tells Lars Orfert.
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