Consilium tackles maritime cabling costs with wireless smoke and heat detection

Gothenburg, 2 June 2026 – Consilium Safety Group, in collaboration with Samsung Heavy Industries and S Wave, has developed a wireless smoke and heat detection solution that has received Approval in Principle (AiP) from ABS. The system uses surface-wave data transmission along the ship’s metal structure to reduce cabling needs.

Steel hulls historically impede wireless communication between compartments. The partners employ resonator technology to convey data along the hull surface, even when the metal is painted or corroded, enabling detector networks to extend into hard-to-wire areas.

Consilium’s detectors are battery-powered and communicate with safety panels via the surface-wave channel. They are compatible with both newbuild installations and existing Consilium systems, enabling post-installation upgrades with minimal rewiring, and they can integrate with select third-party safety systems.

The approach delivers value across newbuilds and lifecycle upgrades. On complex vessels, eliminating cable reduces installation time, weight, and cargo-carrying capacity constraints. On LNG carriers, removing traditional cabling can offer tangible savings.

For vessels already in service, adding new wiring is often complex and costly. If, for example, a CCTV camera at the bow must relay data to the stern, cabling represents a major task. The wireless solution simplifies upgrades, reduces costs, and improves uptime. Any onboard data-transmission system could benefit.

The solution is especially beneficial for cargo and merchant ships, where installation ease is a key factor.

Looking ahead, Consilium sees potential for onboard monitoring on pure car and truck carriers (PCTCs) used to transport vehicles and batteries. There is growing interest in monitoring electric vehicles and related batteries during transport; surface-wave technology could enable inter-deck communication where conventional wireless is hampered by metal structures.

The next step involves large-scale testing and certification to validate performance across maritime environments and conditions, including temperature, vibration, and electromagnetic compatibility (EMC).

About Consilium: Consilium Safety Group provides fire, flame, and gas safety technologies and aftermarket services for marine, energy, rolling stock, and building sectors. Since its origins in 1912, it has grown into an international company driven by innovation, with more than 1,200 employees and over 55 offices worldwide. Antin Infrastructure Partners owns Consilium Safety Group.

For further information: Malin Cardemar, CMCO, Consilium Safety Group; Mail: malin.cardemar@consiliumsafety.com; Telephone: +46 735 95 32 51.