Operators onboard the Pioneering Spirit use video surveillance footage to effectively monitor and perform operations. So when scale and performance of the existing system needed to increase beyond the capability limits, Allseas started a search for a new solution.
Business Challenge
Allseas is a world-leading contractor in offshore pipeline installation, heavy lift and subsea construction. The company owns and operates a fleet of specialized vessels to service oil and gas clients all over the world. In 2016, Allseas commissioned the world’s largest construction vessel, the Pioneering Spirit, measuring 382 meters long and 124 meters wide. The Pioneering Spirit offers single-lift installation and removal of large oil and gas platforms and the installation of record-weight pipelines.
Operators onboard the Pioneering Spirit use video surveillance footage to effectively monitor and perform operations. So when scale and performance of the existing system needed to increase beyond the capability limits, Allseas started a search for a new solution.
The offshore contractor reached out to Alphatron Security, solutions specialists for the marine, industrial, transportation and government markets, to find the right video surveillance system. Allseas wanted full assurance that the system would be dependable. They also wanted an intuitive solution that operators could easily manage and maintain themselves.
After a 2-month full-scale pilot project, Allseas chose the
Genetec Security Center platform with the Omnicast video surveillance system. The platform’s stable performance and easy system management convinced Allseas that they were making the right investment.
A Reliable Platform That Leads to Costs Savings
Today, the Pioneering Spirit has over 400 cameras which are all monitored by operators through Security Center. The openness and flexibility of the platform allowed Allseas to keep 250 cameras from the previous system. The team added 150 IP cameras to ensure multiple viewpoints onboard the massive vessel. They chose different models from various manufacturers such as Axis Communications and Bosch, based on the requirements for the camera location.
One of the key advantages for operators onboard the Pioneering Spirit has been the system’s reliability and ease-of-use. Advanced Failover and Health Monitoring features ensure the system is always running at peak efficiency. If changes need to be made or if any issues arise, technicians onboard the ship can quickly handle them.
“We’ve had zero downtime since installing Security Center, and that helps make our operations highly efficient and safe. Also, there’s no longer a need to fly in support engineers. We are handling our own maintenance and have the freedom to choose our own devices, which has helped us significantly reduce our operating costs,” said Allseas.
Allseas uses a separate barge, called Iron Lady, to transfer platforms to shore in shallower water. Using the Federation™ feature of Security Center, operators on board Pioneering Spirit can use the cameras on Iron Lady to monitor transfer and load-in operations.
Intuitive Platform Simplifies Operator Tasks
There are over 50 client workstations onboard the Pioneering Spirit, many of which are located on the bridge of the ship. Depending on the operation, users will actively watch cameras to make sure that equipment is properly positioned and functioning correctly, and that the heavy lifting process is being executed safely. “Installing and removing offshore structures are highly complex and technical exercises. Our operators use video from Security Center while ensuring that every part of the process is being handled according to our technical framework.,” explained Allseas.
Users onboard the Pioneering Spirit work from Plan Manager, the map-based interface of Security Center. The map layout of the vessel helps operators quickly identify various angles and viewpoints while heavy-lifting processes are underway.
With hundreds of users onboard at a time, Allseas technicians were able to assign specific user privileges depending on each person’s role. Each operator only has access to the camera views they need to effectively carry-out their job, further simplifying tasks and navigation.
Pioneering into the Future with Security Center
Moving ahead, Allseas plans to add more cameras as they find new views that benefit their operations. Until then, the company continues to impress its clients with ground-breaking services in the oil and gas industry.
“We’re very happy with our choice in Security Center. Genetec and Alphatron Security have been outstanding partners, and we feel confident in our investment as we continue to improve our own services for our international clients,” said Allseas.