MSC Cruises is the first company in the industry to receive the " Watchful" technology rating certification from the RINA classification society for the security system (CCTV) on board its flagship MSC Virtuosa.
The process consists of validating a new technology – or an existing one applied to a new environment – to verify, among other requirements, its suitability for purpose, its safety and reliability, as well as its compliance with the regulatory framework.
The 181,000 GT MSC Virtuosa was delivered earlier this year by the shipyard Chantiers de l'Atlantique in Saint-Nazaire, France. After its maiden season this summer in British waters, the MSC Virtuosa will be deployed for the 2021/22 winter season in the Gulf region, based in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, where the ship will be christened on November 27.
The “Watchful” is based on the evaluation of the system's compliance with applicable international guidelines and the highest RINA standards, following a thorough technical analysis to determine that the CCTV system is perfectly integrated with the mandatory mooring and berthing camera system.
RINA certification also verified that MSC Virtuosa's CCTV systems met MSC Cruises' operational safety and security requirements to help the crew identify problems that may occur on board.
The CCTV network configuration, with its excellent coverage, quality, and reliability, allows for the collection of evidence in the event of an incident or investigation, whether conducted by the cruise line or relevant external authorities. The number of cameras has been reduced thanks to an optimization study of blind spots and thorough monitoring of restricted areas.
