Pirates could soon be dazzled by new technology—literally, as a new device, launched at Eurosatory 2012 by Chess Dynamics, and is soon to be fitted to seagoing merchant vessels.

An evolution of the Chess Sea Cobra system, successfully deployed on French Navy ships, the Crow’s Nest device offers crews long-range detection, giving them vital early warning of possible piracy attacks, and the time to issue distress messages and to deploy appropriate defence measures such as razor wire and fire hoses.

Once detected, suspect pirates approaching too closely are flashed with green laser light and an ultra bright, white, high intensity spotlight, supplied by Color-Light, Sweden, which intensifies the nearer they come to the vessel, helping to repel a possible boarding. The addition of a long-range, narrow beam acoustic hailing device (AHD), developed by partner Drumgrange, allows the ship’s crew to warn off the pirates before taking further offensive action, at distances of up to 1,500 m.

Designed primarily as a piracy protection system for commercial shipping, seen as increasingly at risk, the Crow’s Nest device presents a non-lethal deterrent that sends out an unequivocal signal to steer clear, before other more forceful measures come into play.

Currently under trial on an ocean-going car transporter, the device is linked to bespoke automatic video detection software, developed with strategic French partner Automatic Sea Vision (ASV), which is capable of spotting small boats up to six km and larger vessels up to ten km away around the clock, thanks to a built-in low light camera.

“The system offers us the opportunity to work with ship operators and shipping management companies to protect personnel and valuable cargos when vessels are moving through waters known to be vulnerable to piracy,” said Chess Dynamics Managing Director Graham Beall.

Seaborne Laser Warning Detector System

Slovak company Metrodat has launched the Lawarec seaborne laser warning detector system (SLWDS), a real-time surveillance system for naval forces that offers rapid and precise threat reconnaissance and warning in case of an attack.

Adequate numbers of sensor modules installed at various locations on a ship provide 360° surveillance in azimuth and 90° surveillance in elevation. High-speed processors continuously process the received laser signals in real time so that threats approaching by air, land or sea are detected immediately and engaged effectively.

This high coverage improves situational awareness, which is crucial as the presentday battle scenarios are characterised by a wide use of laser devices. SLWDS is interoperable and can be fully integrated with any onboard combat management system.