Matrox devices take to sea aboard underwater cabling ship

Media integrator AmyDV has installed a range of Matrox devices onboard a ship that undertakes underwater cabling operations.

Asso Group – which specialises in the installation and maintenance of cables – tasked Matrox Video with designing and installing the video processing and distribution systems for the two control rooms and five operator rooms onboard its new vessel, Ariadne.

The ship had to be equipped with high-quality and reliable systems that could operate seamlessly even in the most challenging conditions, as repairs and maintenance operations are difficult and time-consuming at sea. The Ariadne’s control rooms required equipment that could withstand the rigours of constant operation, varying temperatures, and potential vibrations.

Matrox Video selected AmyDV as its partner for deploying the video walls, AV networking and communication solutions.

The ship’s size and the number of rooms requiring video wall solutions posed a challenge for the project team. Each operator room had to be equipped with a two by two video wall, while the control rooms needed more than 30 monitors. The project also had to integrate external sources such as IP cameras and PC screens, which required a unified bank of signals that could be configured for each project.

As the uninterrupted performance of tasks is essential, minimal latency becomes paramount. The Ariadne’s operators required real-time monitoring so that they could respond to critical situations immediately, as even the slightest delay could have significant consequences.

The solution deploys more than 15 devices including Mura IPX Series cards, a Matrox Maevex 6152 Quad 4K encoder, Matrox QuadHead2Go multi-monitor controller, Matrox D1450 graphics card and Matrox NRG redundant power supply unit.

The Mura IPX cards play a central role, serving as the core components of the video wall solutions. They enable the seamless processing and viewing of distributed video feeds, ensuring synchronised displays across the ship’s control rooms. The Maevex 6152 encoder facilitates the flexibility to route any signal to any screen in any room, granting administrators full control and customisation over content distribution throughout the Ariadne.

David Chalkidis, solutions expert at AmyDV, says: “The Matrox Video devices provide significant benefits, including saving time, cost and equipment. The devices, engineers and support teams were key to getting the project delivered and operational in record time for the ship’s departure, despite global disruptions caused by the pandemic.”

Dimitris Theodoropoulos, manager of Asso.subsea’s survey team, says: “Video walls and signal distribution are vital for project execution, granting the supervisor a comprehensive overview of operations from a single control room. Matrox and AmyDV have delivered a reliable system, designed to meet the demanding requirements of a 24-hour operational environment, even on a vessel.”