Tracking units keep marine security on course

A review of security and marine logistics for the 2012 London Olympics has found that battery-powered tracking devices used for the sailing and windsurfing events were key to ensuring the boats and equipment involved were safe at all times.

There were 255 stolen vehicle recovery (SVR) units fitted to boats for monitoring and protection.

The battery-powered tracking device from TRACKER is designed specifically for non-powered assets such as boats.

The units – with a battery that lasts more than two years between charge cycles – were sealed in waterproof containers to meet the needs of the harsh, marine operating environment. They were fitted to all police boats, Ministry of Defence (MoD) offshore raiding craft, marshal vessels, fishing vessels and canoes.

Assistant Chief Constable Adrian Whiting, the Dorset Police Gold Commander for the Olympic safety and security operation in Dorset, said: “The

challenge was to enable police and military commanders to have a sound understanding of the real-time locations of assets on the water. To some extent this would also enable easier identification of vessels on electronic monitoring systems too.”

He added that the tracking devices provided a reliable solution in harsh conditions where unit maintenance was not an easy option.

Mr Whiting said the technology meant they could deliver faster responses and accurate asset plotting, improving the efficiency of the operation and resulting in significant cost savings.