Lifebuoy
A sensor in the lifebuoy cabinet alerts the port operator as soon as a lifebuoy is removed. Staff know immediately where equipment is missing and can help in an emergency or quickly fit a replacement after theft.
Lifebuoy at a glance
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Verified projects featuring Lifebuoy
Lifebuoy cabinet monitoring in the port
In the solution example, sensors fitted in the emergency cabinets register when the ring is taken out of its holder. The alert travels via a low power wide area network to the AllThingsTalk IoT platform. The networks used are Narrowband IoT and LoRaWAN, which have proven themselves over long distances and outdoors. The removal is therefore located straight away. The components can be retrofitted to existing infrastructure.
The example comes from the Port of Antwerp, in transport and logistics, with hazard detection and early damage detection as use cases. The port authority commissioned technology provider ALSO to build the solution. Across more than 152 square kilometres of port area, checking every lifebuoy by hand takes a lot of time and staff. At the same time, lifebuoys are frequent targets of theft and vandalism, yet they cannot be locked away because first responders must reach them immediately. The lifebuoys are the starting point of a port data platform. The same platform measures groundwater levels, collects condition data from cranes and checks structures for corrosion.
Lifebuoy cabinets in ports: frequently asked questions
How does a port monitor its lifebuoy stations?
A port monitors its lifebuoy stations with sensors in the emergency cabinets that report every removal. At the Port of Antwerp, the alert travels via Narrowband IoT or LoRaWAN to the AllThingsTalk platform, set up by ALSO. Staff see immediately which station is missing its ring. Manual checks of every station across the extensive port area are no longer needed.
What helps against lifebuoy theft?
Against theft, an immediate alert on every removal helps, because lifebuoys cannot be locked away. They must remain visible and accessible to every first responder. At the Port of Antwerp, IoT sensors alert the administration as soon as a ring is taken out of its holder. Staff can then secure the equipment or at least replace it quickly so that operations continue safely.
Does a sensor replace on-site lifebuoy inspection?
Above all, the sensor replaces checking whether the lifebuoy is present. According to the solution example, this is exactly the decisive information, and it must be transmitted reliably over long distances. At the Port of Antwerp, material costs and the effort of regular checks across more than 152 square kilometres add up to considerable costs. With the alert, staff respond in a targeted way instead of on patrols.
Which networks suit lifebuoy monitoring?
Low power wide area networks are suitable for extensive outdoor sites. At the Port of Antwerp, ALSO uses Narrowband IoT and LoRaWAN, which have proven themselves over long distances and outdoors. The data comes together on the AllThingsTalk IoT platform. Once the platform is established, further sensors can be connected, for example for groundwater levels, cranes or corrosion checks.
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