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Top 5 Camera Systems Every Superyacht Needs

8 April 2020 · 3 min read

Whether capturing action highs or keeping up with the latest in surveillance, we have delved deep into the realms of camera technology and drawn up a list of our top five must-have camera systems that we believe every superyacht should be equipped with.

1. Surveillance — Throwbot 2

The flip side to the glitz and glamour of experiencing life aboard a superyacht is that there is no hiding the extravagant levels of wealth on display. Security is of the utmost importance on board all vessels, but when passing through waters flagged for piracy, there can be no limit to the level of onboard safety precautions.

Enter the Throwbot 2, a throwable micro-robot that enables operators to obtain instant video and audio surveillance indoor and outdoor. Designed to withstand repeated drops of up to 30 feet onto concrete, the robot camera can be thrown into hazardous situations, crawl over a variety of terrain, and help crew make informed decisions when seconds count.

Pros

  • Portable & throwable
  • Moves indoors & outdoors
  • HD video & audio stream

Cons

  • No 360° vision
  • No continuous operation

2. Drone — DJI Inspire 2 Cinema Premium

Fun to fly and relatively easy to master, drones have fast become a go-to piece of equipment on board any yacht to capture stunning aerial footage that would otherwise be impossible to achieve. The DJI Inspire 2 Cinema Premium is one of the world's most capable drones thanks to its intelligent flight modes, obstacle avoidance, redundant batteries and 5.2K camera.

Pros

  • 7km remote-controlled range
  • 27 min flight time
  • 5.2K internal recording and 1080p live stream

Cons

  • No 360° vision
  • No continuous operation
  • Not waterproof

3. Underwater — Blueye PRO ROV

A large part of a superyacht charter experience is exploring the big blue — diving, swimming and just finding out what lies beneath the surface. The Blueye PRO ROV allows for quick and user-friendly inspection of your assets below the surface up to depths of 305m, with 3300 lumen lights enabling crew to dive in the dark.

Pros

  • Underwater footage from up to 305m depth
  • Remote-controlled with tether
  • Portable

Cons

  • No 360° vision
  • No continuous operation

4. Night Vision — Current Corp Night Navigator 8000

The Night Navigator 8000 Series camera is a versatile addition to any superyacht's arsenal of camera technology. Certified to the IMO HSC code and Wheelmark by Lloyds Register, it assists yachts cruising at high speeds at night by providing the captain with a visual of potential obstacles in the navigation path.

Pros

  • Night vision (IR thermal)
  • 360° and optical zoom
  • Continuous operation

Cons

  • No 360° vision in daylight (PTZ only)
  • Not portable

5. Panoramic — Panoblu

Imagine being able to map your yachting journey in 360° high resolution panoramas from anywhere in the world. Panoblu — the world's first professional panoramic imaging system for the luxury yacht market — offers exactly that. Permanently mounted on a high position of the superyacht, the ultra-high resolution 360° camera provides a system similar to a private Google Street View for the superyacht owner.

Using 12 custom built cameras in a spherical arrangement, it captures dynamic images of the yacht's cruising footprint. The ultra-high resolution panoramas with up to 157Mpix are captured automatically, providing a visual log for future use.

Pros

  • 360° UHD 157MP vision
  • Operates continuously
  • Weather & corrosion proof

Cons

  • Fixed installation (supports multiple connection units)

Further Reading

Technology How Multimedia Technology Can Take Yachting to the Next Level 24 Mar 2020 Read Article → Opinion Beyond the PTZ: The Case for 360° Continuous Awareness May 2026 Read Article →