The HarbourWatch application is currently under development in a joint effort with the CSIR (Council for Scientific and Industrial Research) in Stellenbosch, Cape Town. We are currently testing various techniques and applications for a vision system in aiding a busy port.

With a camera high above the port stationed at the top of Port Control, our aim is to assist the port in the monitoring of vessel movements within the port. This will include vessel movement caused by long wave resonance which causes vessels to break their mooring lines, the unsolicited movement of ships to different bollards on the quay during the night and provide a security/monitoring system to record illegal activities by vessels in the harbour.

We have already had success in capturing footage of a light vessel harassing a whale which was at the mouth of the port. The vessel ignored instructions given to it by Port Control and the captain of this vessel denied being involved in the incident. With the aid of the camera on top of Port Control, footage of the incident was captured and is now being used in an ongoing investigation.

With the help of the CSIR we are able to simulate long wave resonance in a controlled environment within their model hall. The algorithm looks at tracking ship movement dynamics from an oblique camera angle.

Various harbours have expressed interest in the system and a roll-out is scheduled for early 2008.