Queensland invention scuttles maritime terrorists
The world’s first ship security system using a stand-alone microprocessor has been developed on the Sunshine Coast.
Dr Evan Jones (below) never imagined his love of fishing and desire to protect wild stocks of tuna and marlin would one day lead to the creation of a hightech device to protect ships on the high seas. But that is exactly what has happened to the Ipswichborn general practitioner who now divides his time between practising medicine at Caloundra and running Advanced Marine Vision (AMV) and its sister company AMV SSAS Solutions at Sippy Downs.
After many years of research and development, Dr Jones’s original electronic device to track fish has evolved into the highly sophisticated AMV Smart Controller, a compact microprocessor placed on board a ship. In the event of a terrorist or piracy attack, it transmits an alert signal to authorities via satellite, who then assess and respond to the threat.
Dr Jones said increased terrorism concerns are impacting on transport networks around the world and piracy remains a real danger to mariners.
“The market potential for the Smart Controller is huge with International Maritime Organisation legislation requiring 60,000 large cargo and passenger ships to be fitted with a Ship Security Alert System by July 2006,” Dr Jones said.
Dr Jones said AMV is also developing other security products including the Integrated Vessel Monitoring System which can transmit real time video and audio. Advance Marine Vision is another success story to come out of the Innovation Centre Sunshine Coast, Australia’s Regional Incubator of the Year for 2003. AMV entered the Innovation Centre in June 2003 with four staff and now employs a team of nine.
Innovation Centre CEO Colin Graham said Advanced Marine Vision is an excellent example of a smart business that has grown out of its founder’s passion for the environment and the oceans.
“AMV is another example of how the Sunshine Coast is developing into an innovation hotspot,” Mr Graham said.