Consilium tackles maritime cabling costs with wireless smoke and heat detection
Gothenburg – 4 June 2026, the world-leading safety tech company Consilium Safety Group has partnered with Samsung Heavy Industries and S Wave to develop a wireless smoke and heat detection solution that has received Approval in Principle (AiP) from ABS. This solution reduces the need for complex cabling by using the ship’s metal structure to transmit data.
Wireless communication on ships has long been difficult because steel structures block signals between compartments. Consilium and its partners address this by using surface-wave technology, which transmits signals along the ship’s metal surface rather than through the air.
“Our partners developed resonator technology that lets data travel along the hull. It works even if the metal is painted or rusted,” says Thobias Ernfridsson, Chief Technology Officer at Consilium Safety Group. “By combining this with our detector technology, we can expand safety infrastructure into hard-to-wire areas.”
Consilium’s main contribution is a new generation of battery-powered smoke and heat detectors that communicate with its safety panels via the surface-wave channel.
These detectors are compatible with both new and existing Consilium systems, enabling post-installation without extensive rewiring. They can also integrate with select third-party safety systems, providing operators with more options to upgrade or expand their detection infrastructure.
The technology offers value both in newbuild projects and later in a vessel’s lifecycle.
“The more complex the vessel, the more systems it carries, and the greater the value of this solution. On a large LNG carrier, each metre of cable removed saves installation time, reduces weight and increases cargo capacity,” Ernfridsson says.
The benefits also extend to ships already in service.
“Adding new wires to a 300-meter operating vessel is complex and costly,” Ernfridsson says. “If a CCTV camera at the bow needs to send data to the stern, cabling is a major job. This technology makes the job easier, reducing costs, speeding upgrades, and improving uptime. Any onboard system that needs to transmit data could benefit from this.”
The wireless detection solution is especially useful for cargo and merchant ships, where easier installation is a big advantage.
Consilium sees future potential for the technology, including onboard monitoring on PCTCs used to transport vehicles.
“There is growing interest in monitoring electric vehicles and batteries during transport,” says Ernfridsson. “Conventional wireless can work reasonably well on open decks, but communication between decks becomes more difficult because of the metal structure. That is where surface-wave technology could open up new possibilities.”
The next step involves large-scale testing and certification to confirm the technology’s performance throughout various maritime environments and conditions, including temperature, vibration, and electromagnetic compatibility (EMC).
About Consilium:
Consilium Safety Group is a world-leading solution provider of fire, flame and gas safety technologies and aftermarket services for the marine, energy, rolling stock and building sectors. By combining safety expertise with intelligent detection, the company contributes to protecting lives, values, and the planet through technology. What started in 1912 is today an international company driven by innovation. Consilium Safety Group is based in Gothenburg, Sweden, has more than 55 offices covering all time zones and strives to be a great place to grow for all its 1,200+ employees. Antin Infrastructure Partners own Consilium Safety Group.
For further information:
Malin Cardemar, CMCO, Consilium Safety Group
Mail: malin.cardemar@consiliumsafety.com
Telephone: +46 735 95 32 51
