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Marine CCTV · Explosion-proof cameras · Remote viewing
Marine-grade CCTV systems for cargo ships, tankers, LNG carriers, offshore units and yachts. Satcenter designs, installs and supports onboard camera systems that keep the bridge and the office ashore informed, at sea and in port.
Onboard video surveillance
A maritime CCTV system is a network of marine-grade cameras, recorders and monitors that lets the crew watch critical areas of the vessel from the bridge, the engine control room or the office ashore.
Unlike a building system, onboard CCTV has to cope with salt spray, vibration, temperature swings, wet decks and, on tankers and gas carriers, explosive atmospheres. Cameras, housings, cable glands and junction boxes must be chosen and installed for those conditions.
A typical ship CCTV installation includes:
Coverage onboard
Forecastle, mooring stations, accommodation ladder and gangway watch during berthing, cargo work and port stays.
Main engine, generators, purifiers and steering gear, visible from the engine control room and the bridge, including during unmanned periods.
Cargo manifolds, pump rooms and cargo deck areas on tankers and gas carriers, covered with certified explosion-proof cameras.
Cargo holds, crane operations and container lashing areas, so the bridge can follow loading and discharging in real time.
Accommodation entrances, stairways and restricted areas in support of the ship security plan and ISPS Code procedures.
Public spaces on passenger vessels and discreet exterior coverage on superyachts, at anchor and alongside.
ATEX and IECEx certified
On oil and chemical tankers, LNG and LPG carriers, FPSOs and offshore units, cameras in hazardous areas must not become a source of ignition. Satcenter supplies and installs explosion-proof CCTV cameras certified to ATEX and IECEx for use in Zone 1 and Zone 2 gas areas.
We check the vessel's hazardous area classification, select equipment that matches the zone, and document the installation for class and terminal inspections. The same rugged cameras also suit engine rooms, where heat, oil mist and vibration quickly wear out standard equipment.
Built for the sea
Exterior cameras with IP66/IP67 housings, corrosion-resistant finishes and sun shields, built to deliver a clear image through salt spray, rain and direct sunlight, 24 hours a day.
Compact fixed cameras for corridors, stairways, stores and machinery spaces. Vandal-resistant domes suit accommodation areas and passenger spaces.
Pan-tilt-zoom cameras give one operator control over a large area such as the cargo deck, the mooring stations or the main engine flat, with preset positions for routine checks.
Infrared cameras keep the deck visible at night. Thermal cameras detect people and heat sources in complete darkness and support anti-piracy watchkeeping and early detection of overheating equipment.
Motion detection, line crossing and intrusion alerts notify the watch when someone enters a restricted area, so the crew does not need to watch every screen continuously.
AI video analytics
As the number of cameras on vessels increases, continuously monitoring every video stream becomes increasingly difficult. Even an experienced operator cannot watch dozens of camera feeds simultaneously throughout an entire watch.
AI changes this principle. Instead of asking the operator to continuously search the camera images for an incident, the system analyses the images and directs attention towards situations that may require action.
In the future, we expect CCTV to become increasingly integrated with access control, vessel networks and other onboard monitoring systems. Cameras will no longer function only as recording devices. They will increasingly operate as intelligent sensors that provide real-time information about what is happening around the vessel.
For shipowners planning a CCTV upgrade today, it is important to consider future AI capabilities even when these functions are not required immediately. Selecting suitable cameras, recording platforms and network infrastructure now makes it considerably easier to introduce advanced analytics later.
Recording and remote access
All cameras record to a marine network video recorder (NVR) on board, with storage sized for the number of cameras, the resolution and the retention period your company requires. H.265 compression keeps file sizes small without losing detail, and recordings stay available on board even when the vessel has no internet connection.
With an onboard connection such as Starlink, OneWeb, VSAT or 4G/5G in coastal waters, superintendents and the fleet operations team can view live images and play back recordings from the office ashore.
Cameras and recorders are placed on a separate network segment (VLAN), behind the vessel's firewall, with encrypted remote access and individual user accounts. No camera is exposed directly to the internet. Read more on our maritime cybersecurity and maritime IT services pages.
Survey, installation, commissioning
A camera is only as reliable as its mounting, cabling and cable entries. Our engineers handle the complete installation, from the first survey to handover to the crew:
We plan the work around the vessel's schedule, in port, at anchor or during a voyage, with engineers based in Rotterdam and Istanbul and worldwide attendance by arrangement. Existing analogue systems can be upgraded to IP step by step, reusing cabling where possible.
After commissioning
Camera, recorder and network faults investigated remotely over the satellite link, without waiting for the next port call.
Checks on hard disk status, recording schedules and retention, so footage is available after an incident.
Firmware updates and configuration backups for cameras and NVRs to keep the system secure and stable.
Round-the-clock support from our engineers, plus onboard attendance for repairs, extensions and replacements.
FAQ
Answers to the questions shipowners, superintendents and yacht managers ask us most about onboard camera systems.
Most vessels cover the engine room and machinery spaces, steering gear, mooring stations, gangway, accommodation entrances and the cargo deck. Tankers and gas carriers add the manifold and pump room areas with explosion-proof cameras. We prepare a position plan during the survey.
Cameras installed in a classified hazardous area, such as the cargo deck of a tanker or LNG carrier or a pump room, must be certified for that zone, for example to ATEX or IECEx Zone 1 or Zone 2. Outside hazardous areas, marine-grade IP66/IP67 cameras are sufficient.
Yes. Over Starlink, OneWeb, VSAT or 4G/5G, authorised users can view live images and recordings through encrypted remote access. We configure bandwidth-saving streams so CCTV does not disturb other onboard traffic.
That depends on the number of cameras, resolution, frame rate and recorder storage. Most systems are sized for 30 days or more of continuous recording; we size the NVR to your company policy.
AI analytics watch the camera images for the crew and raise an alert when attention is needed: missing PPE, a person falling or entering a restricted area, and intrusion around the vessel. Person and vehicle classification reduces false alarms, and intelligent video search makes incident investigation much faster.
Yes. We can replace cameras and recorders step by step, use encoders to keep working analogue cameras in service, and reuse existing cabling where its condition allows.
Not when it is installed correctly. We put cameras on a separate VLAN behind the firewall, change default passwords, keep firmware up to date and allow remote access only through encrypted connections.
Yes. Our engineers can work in port, at anchor or sail with the vessel between ports, and we plan cabling and hot work around the ship's schedule and permit-to-work system.
Vessel Tech
Get in touch
Send us the vessel type, the areas you want to cover, any hazardous zones and your remote viewing needs. We will prepare a proposal covering cameras, installation and support. You can also reach us at info@satcenter.tv or +31 (0)85 560 71 20.
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