Sentinel IDS – Intruder Detection Sonar

The reliable detection of underwater targets in the acoustically hostile environment of a seaport, harbour or marine terminal using sonar is a notoriously difficult challenge to overcome. Constant vessel traffic, noise from active depth sounders and a complex thermal structure characterise the scene.

Sentinel has been specifically designed to cope with these conditions, including ‘brown’ water, shallow water and tidal harbours where vessel activity results in a lot of disturbance in the water column. The system’s unique detection, classification and tracking software has been proven to operate in all environmental conditions and is capable of tracking multiple targets in real-time.

Naval ships anchored off the coast or berthed in ports and dockyards are difficult assets to protect because of their size and proximity to commercial shipping traffic, open shipping lanes and leisure users. Physical measures such as floating barriers offer ships protection against surface attack using fast boats, divers using easily acquired scuba equipment remain a significant, yet hard to detect threat.

Sentinel’s compact sonar can be deployed using its own cable over the side of small craft patrolling inland waterways, through the hull of a naval vessel (e.g. Offshore Patrol Vessels) or lowered on a lightweight frame directly onto the seabed. If required, track data can also be exported via an open, industry standard interface to the vessel’s Combat Management System or integrated bridge.

Sentinel provides reliable, effective and affordable security for properties and vessels considered to be vulnerable to unauthorised access from the water. The moment an intruder enters a monitored underwater exclusion zone, the alarm is raised and the threat is tracked. Sentinel’s advance warning of an attack gives security personnel time to assess the threat, intercept it, or simply move the protected vessel away from it – ensuring the safety of owners, guests and crew always comes first.

Designed to take Sentinel IDS deployments to places where no infrastructure exists or rapid deployment is essential:

• - Integrated diesel generator for fully remote deployment
• - GNSS
• - Wireless communications to other networked trailers or Crewed Command Centre
• - Capable of working in a network of up to 10 trailers/sonar heads for complex environments
• - Operator interface via pull out/drop down monitor system
• - Capable of relocation using Land Rover sized vehicle
• - Equipment climate conditioning for all environments

Designed to enable Sentinel IDS mobilisation where no suitable infrastructure exists or rapid deployment is critical:

• - Cable connected for power/comms
• - Lightweight and easily transported with assembly onsite
• - Launch from jetty or slipway before floating into position
• - Anchored or tied up alongside

- Deployment machine capable of deployment from 1m to 5m depths

Designed for ship, choke point or event protection where no power or communications is available:

• - Simple deployment via ship’s davit and towed into position via RIB
• - Independent power supply capable of 72 hours unattended operation
• - Wireless communications back to MSC
• - Available as a containerised solution with a command station including Command & Display console and one or more Rapid Deployment Sentinel IDS systems