The Strait of Malacca is now a bit safer; several long-range surveillance ARGC-2400 cameras from Obzerv Technologies (Quebec, Canada) have been installed in Malaysia to improve the Malaysia Maritime Enforcement Agency's (MMEA) capacity for maritime security in the Strait and in Malaysian territorial waters.
The ARGC-2400 range-gated, intensified cameras have been integrated with existing radar stations that enhance the smooth flow of sea traffic along the 900 km channel. While the radar stations are dedicated to the detection and location of unusual activities and threats, the ARGC-2400 cameras are used to classify and clearly identify those targets.
From economic and strategic perspectives, the Strait of Malacca, which separates Malaysia from Sumatra and is a major link between the Indian and Pacific Oceans, is one of the most important shipping lanes in the world. The Strait carries 70,000 vessels per year, which is close to one quarter of the world's sea trade. Moreover, it has grown to be the main passageway for oil for major energy consumers such as Japan and China. As a consequence, this area has become a target for piracy attacks. In response, the MMEA has developed a surveillance network, which is nearing completion.
The ARGC-2400 long-range night-vision camera, which Observ regards as its flagship product, can operate either passively (using ambient light) or actively (using a near-IR laser illuminator). It can read a vehicle license plate at up to 2 km; recognize a human being at 5 km; classify a vehicle at 10 km; and pinpoint people in search-and-rescue activities at distances greater than 10 km. It can operate in bad weather, including rain, fog, and snow.
Based on laser-range-gated technology, the electro-optic device has a motorized continuous zoom with a magnification up to 240X combined with an intensified CCD camera, as well as a wide-field-of-view color camera and GPS. It also has an intuitive user interface, according to Observ.
