Windsor Port Authority has enhanced waterway safety and security across its jurisdiction on the US-Canada border with surveillance cameras from Axis Communications.

According to Axis Communications, these cameras, combined with radar solutions from Accipiter Radar Technologies, provide the port with the visibility needed to prevent collisions, better detect illegal activity and save lives along the river.

The Windsor Port

Located on the Detroit River, the Windsor Port serves as the passageway between Lake Huron and Lake Erie, navigating between 6,000 and 9,000 cargo vessels annually.

In addition to commercial ships, over 10,000 small fishing boats and other recreational watercraft make their way through the port each year.

With so many vessels passing through, Windsor Port Authority realized that it needed better visibility into happenings along the river to be able to keep the waterway running safely and smoothly.

“Keeping the port safe”

Peter Berry, Harbour Master and Vice President of Operations, Windsor Port Authority commented: “Axis’ cameras, along with Accipiter’s radar technology, have been vital to keeping the port safe for all who pass through it.

“Without detailed knowledge of the traffic in these waters, the risk of severe accidents increases significantly, so having the ability to both detect and visually confirm incidents in real-time is invaluable.

“We’ve already been able to do some amazing things with the enhanced surveillance solution, like quickly rescuing drowning victims and helping to catch human smugglers and we’re eager to see what the future holds as a result of this upgrade,” concluded Berry.

Integration

Axis Communications notes that while radar coverage from Accipiter has monitored river activity for years, offering wide-area, real-time detection and tracking to identify commercial vessels, jet skiers and even debris in the water, it still lacked the visual detail needed to provide effective, remote observation.

By integrating Axis’ bispectral cameras into Accipiter’s platform, the port now has a 360-degree surveillance system with both thermal detection and visual verification.

With this enhanced system, the port can:

• Broadcast real-time warnings about obstructions in the channel
• Safely navigate craft through high-risk construction projects
• Deliver precise coordinates for faster rescue operations
• Help to identify criminal activity

“Awareness and heightened safety”

Anthony Incorvati, Transportation Segment Development Manager for the Americas at Axis commented: “At Axis, we take pride in working with organizations like Windsor Port Authority to contribute to improved marine domain awareness and heightened safety along the border.

“Combining advanced camera and radar technology ensures comprehensive visibility in maritime environments, providing essential detection and visual verification to resolve incidents quickly and effectively.”

Incorvati continued: “Not only that, but powerful business intelligence capabilities contribute to improved operations across the organization.”

Plans

Looking ahead, the port plans to enhance its capabilities with drone awareness.

By leveraging the Accipiter platform’s designed three-dimensional slew-to-cue software, Axis cameras will seamlessly transition from monitoring the river to tracking aerial targets using radar technology.