DCNS’ has launched I2C (pronounced as ‘Eye to See’), which stands for “integrated system for interoperable sensors and information sources for common abnormal vessel behaviour detection and collaborative identification of threat” campaign.

Marylin software suite

DCNS has vast expertise in the development and integration of complex data systems dedicated to the naval defence domain which it has applied in the area of maritime security involving coastguard, police, customs and other agencies responsible for maritime security. Marylin is one such system which is designed to improve the coordinated effectiveness of sea search and rescue missions amongst multiple agencies. This system has just been installed in all regional surveillance and rescue operational centres (CROSS – Centres régionaux opérationnels de surveillance et de sauvetage) of the Department of Maritime Affairs in metropolitan France and will soon begin work at CROSS centres in French overseas departments and territories. The suite significantly enhances the efficiency of maritime SAR missions while improving coordination with the various agencies involved in state actions at sea, including Navy, Department of Maritime Affairs, law enforcement, civil security and customs agencies. Marylin is a software suite which was developed in close collaboration with CROSS operational teams to meet requirements identified by the Department of Maritime Affairs. With the new software suite, CROSS personnel can quickly analyse all the data available for each SAR situation. Marylin also helps to improve response team coordination and interaction. The solution monitors all the types of situations faced by CROSS centres and helps personnel to organise the most appropriate response as quickly as possible.

I2C Campaign

DCNS along with its partners (European Union, Le Pôle-Mer PACA, Rockwell Collins, IRIT, Kongsberg, Sofresud, Joint Research Centre of the European Commission, Intuilab, Clear Priority, Armines, Airship Vision, Meteosim, Astra, Ajeco, Onera, Zeppelin, Eric Van Hoodonik Advocaten and Ecomer) carried out the first I2C1 coordinated campaign from July 17-23 in the bay of Toulon to test the efficacy of the system in live conditions. I2C allows the dynamic analysis of vessel trajectories and activities, database access and automatic alerts as a function of the standing operating procedures rules in consultation with the operational authorities. Zeppelin® aerostat, maritime patrol aircraft, surface drone and coastal surveillance stations were deployed during the campaign. The aim was to evaluate the I2C system and its vessel surveillance performance in the exclusive economic zone (EEZ), which extends up to 200 nautical miles (about 320 kilometres) from the coastline.

Practically, the system must ensure the monitoring of the movement of almost 50,000 vessels of all sizes which is facilitated by the automatic identification System which is mandatory to be carried by all commercial vessels. I2C aims to be complementary to existing national surveillance systems and offers the continuous correlation of many other streams of maritime information originating from multiple sources such as weather and sea-state forecasts, vessel identity and history, geographical data, port movements, intelligence, etc.

These multiple sources of information are exploited by a powerful algorithmic simulation software tool. For each alert, it provides precise hypotheses concerning the nature of the illegal activity. Furthermore, the operator may himself apply “detection rule” settings to detect any particular type of suspicious or hostile situation. The DCNS teams are also coordinating the European research project I2C, supported by the European Union. This project is supported by the European Union through the Framework Programme for research of the maritime chapter of EUROpean SURveillance (EUROSUR). It aims to develop a common (multinational and interoperable) border surveillance system.

The success of the Marylin and I2C programme has positioned DCNS as a leading player in maritime surveillance systems at a time when many nations across the globe including India are looking for this type of solution for their coastal surveillance and protection of EEZ.