Security
Protecting your vessel and preparing for the unexpected.
Maximum maritime protection
At sea, it is essential to guarantee the physical safety of personnel and protect vessels, especially navy vessels navigating in high-risk zones. Concern about unlawful acts that threaten the safety of ships and the security of their passengers and crews grew during the 1980s with reports of kidnappings and hi-jacking. As a result, in November 1985 the IMO Assembly adopted resolution A.584(14) as a means of prevention. By July 2004, a new maritime security regulatory regime had been adopted into the International Convention for the Safety of Life at Sea (SOLAS). This kind of legislation demonstrates the importance the IMO places in marine security - a priority that we share at Saint-Gobain Marine.
Many threats are difficult to predict as they come in diverse forms and are unexpected by nature, whether pounding waves, the risk of fire or pirate attacks. Your choice of design and materials, especially glazing, can play a key role in protecting your vessel and the people on aboard in the case of:
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Physical attacks, both planned and opportunistic damage such as vandalism and theft
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Ballistic impact from firearms of different calibers
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Explosion impact from bombs or machinery malfunction
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Destructive weather and elements including high-pressure wind and waves
All vessels require a certain level of security – some, like military vessels, need the latest technologies to ensure the highest possible protection across different applications, from the wheelhouse to the fly deck. By providing glass and complete solutions comprising framing, wipers and control, Saint-Gobain Marine adapts to the needs of different customers – however demanding their requirements and tough their operating conditions. Marine-specific radomes also play a key role in protecting the radar to maintain communications under any circumstances.
More information about increasing the security of your vessel?
How tempered glass can protect your vessel?
Whether from crashing waves or an aggressive pirate attack, glass windows are often perceived as a soft spot on a vessel. Using toughened glass combined with foil interlays increases protection and pressure resistance from hostile waves and potential intruders or other catastrophic events. Vetrotech’s Stadip Marine VETROGARD range protects against all forms of attacks (BR1 to BR7, EN 1063) – for example, VETROGARD+ combines high-security glass with blast, bullet and attack resistance, as well as fire protection, for almost any risk scenario.
How can you protect your vessel from blasts and bullets?
Often operating in high-risk zones, warships require specific protection from blasts and bullets. Saint-Gobain Sully uses chemical reinforcement to double the resistance compared to standard tempered glass (250Mpa versus 125Mpa) and avoid the visual distortion created by heat tempering. You will still benefit from good vision even when the glass breaks in comparison to standard tempered glass. What’s more, the solutions are subject to Finit Element Modelisation (FEM) and blast wave tests in different weather conditions. With an in-house ballistic laboratory, Saint-Gobain Sully also tests hundreds of new compositions each year to optimise the laminate to ensure better ballistic protection.
Protection from electro-magnetic interference and radar detection
As intruders and their attacks become increasingly sophisticated, vessels can be at risk of electromagnetic interference and confidentiality leaks, especially onboard military vessels carrying sensitive information. Saint-Gobain Sully has developed glazing solutions that avoid magnetic attacks by ensuring radiation does not enter ship and increase confidentiality by preventing the exit of radiation. Radar detection can be avoided by increasing the amount of radiation reflected into the sky. Solutions achieve an attenuation of until 50dB on 0.1 MHz to 40GHz – the highest radar wave attenuation on the market. They also improve light transmission (75% versus 60% generally) and do not reflect light at night for better nocturnal vision.
Optimise security across your vessel
Marine glazing solutions
VETROTECH
Pressure-resistant glazing for the hull and upper structure to protect people and goods against high-pressure waves and winds, as well as attacks.
SULLY
Armoured windows and glazing solutions for military ships, providing protection against blasts, radar detection and bullets.
Special applications
SHEERGUARD
Marine-specific radomes offering providing enhanced resistance to impact, corrosion and moisture to protect your radar and optimise communication.
Beyond security
Many of our security solutions also provide additional benefits. Pressure-resistant glazing can also be fire-resistant and energy-efficient. Bullet and blast proof glazing can also help keep a constant temperature and avoid frost and misting using either a coating or wired system. Patented technology means windows can be ready-to-fit-in to minimize installation time and maintenance.