Sonardyne International has installed a Sentinel Intruder Detection System (IDS) onboard a drilling rig operating in an undisclosed offshore oil field in the Middle East.
According to the UK-based maritime security company, the system has been deployed to protect the platform against the threat of attack from underwater intruders.
Sentinel has been developed to meet the underwater security requirements of private, commercial, government and naval end users. It is allegedly the world’s most widely deployed intruder detection sonar.
The system has the capability to detect, track and classify divers as well as small underwater vehicles approaching a protected asset from any direction.
Upon tracking, the system alerts security personnel to the potential threat.
The autonomous monitoring capabilities, long range detection and low false alarm rates of Sentinel are said to provide a rapidly deployable, 360° underwater security solution for any application.
The applications include protecting a critical infrastructure facility, offshore platform, sea port or superyacht at anchor.
Sonardyne Maritime Security business manager Nick Swift said: "We’re seeing an increasing requirement for our diver detection technology to be deployed to protect these vulnerable facilities.
"Each one faces different security threats depending on the region in which they are operating, and we work closely with customers and users to ensure the systems we deliver fulfil their requirements for underwater surveillance."
The company expects further orders from its customer for additional systems for vessel operations in the same vicinity.
The latest installations will enable the company to increase its presence in the market and also help maintain its position as the supplier of diver detection systems, the company said.
Image: Sonardyne’s Sentinel Intruder Detection System. Photo: courtesy of Sonardyne.
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