A video-monitoring camera is a camera that permits the monitoring of a specified zone requiring surveillance. There are many different types of video-monitoring cameras: indoor and outdoor cameras, cameras with protective frames, night-vision video cameras, wireless cameras, etc. Some models combine two or more of these features, e.g., a night-vision camera with a protective frame. All such units are known as closed-circuit television (CCTV).
Since the implementation of the Ship and Port Facility Security Code (ISPS Code), video-monitoring cameras have become an effective tool to fill a gap in marine surveillance. On high-capacity passenger ships, security teams have found them to be a useful tool to ensure a high level of security.
A network of video-monitoring cameras recording constantly and providing backup to a computer or data recorder, provide instantaneous access to detect any incident. In addition, CCTV can be monitored locally, or remotely via the internet.
The selection of a video-monitoring camera will depend to a large extent on the characteristics of the area to be controlled. Criteria include indoors or outdoors, illumination of the area or the resolution of the camera. Whenever the choice is to monitor via the internet, speed and on-board satellite communications capabilities must be taken into account.
