The Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI) has used Bosch’s rugged MIC Series 400 pan-tilt-zoom cameras on board its Tamar class all-weather lifeboats for more than six years – and, says Bosch, plans a roll out to more of the charity’s lifeboats in the near future.
The RNLI specified the MIC Series 400 AL version for its Tamar lifeboats. The IP68 rated camera housing, machined from 6mm thick solid aluminium, is said to be totally corrosion proof thanks to treatment with special coating processes used in both the aerospace and defence industries. The camera will keep on working even when submerged underwater, making it, according to Bosch, the ideal choice for marine and coastal applications.
Full 360° continuous rotation and 320° tilt control, with up to a 36x zoom option, allows camera operators to pinpoint incidents quickly and effectively in even the harshest environmental conditions. A toughened, optically perfectly flat viewing window and integrated wiper help cope with the sea spray and waves the camera encounters mounted aboard a high speed, sea-going vessel.
Mounted on the exterior of the Tamar lifeboats, the MIC Series 400 cameras allow the RNLI to record footage of search and rescue incidents. The footage is used for training, operational and broadcast purposes. “We identified a requirement to record video footage while our volunteer crews are at sea,” said Peter Bradley, RNLI staff officer, communications, said, “and found Bosch’s MIC Series 400 cameras can more than withstand the tough conditions we subject them to.”
The RNLI is a registered charity, devoted to saving lives at sea, and relies solely on voluntary donations. The charity operates more than 330 lifeboats – which are crewed by highly trained volunteers – from 235 lifeboat stations around the coasts of the UK and Republic of Ireland. Since its foundation in 1824 the charity has been responsible for saving the lives of more than 139,000 individuals who have found themselves in difficulty at sea.
