Port of Cork is safe and secure
The sheer area of the Port of Cork provides a major challenge for port security.
The Port of Cork is one of Ireland’s largest and most economically important ports. Over 3,000 ships and 10m tons of cargo pass though the port each year, making it one of the busiest ports in Ireland.
There are many security challenges facing the Port of Cork due to such large traffic volumes, which alongside the ever changing and demanding cargo industry, encouraged the port to review its security.
In particular, the port looked at fulfilling the International Ship and Port Security (ISPS) Code requirements, which are designed to ensure that the security of ships and port facilities are protected with the appropriate security measures. As a result, the Port of Cork employed global security company ADT to deal with these issues, making sure that new security processes were undergone with minimum disruption to daily proceedings across the port.
There are five terminals across a massive 15km2 area at the Port of Cork. This provided a major challenge for port security, as the sites are so spread out. There was a clear need to provide a form of control and remote monitoring, ideally from a central control point that would become a security hub, monitoring all elements of an integrated security system. This was the natural route to follow because previously, none of the port’s security systems talked to each other. ADT therefore created a single access control system and a single CCTV system across the port.
Another key consideration was maximum prevention of criminal activity and the solution described above would ensure that any erroneous activity was managed effectively and efficiently. The installed system provides advanced access control using CEM Etherpox intelligent card readers and ID badging, which is controlled centrally. Also, within the deepwater terminal and the ferry terminal, card readers are now installed on the vehicle control barriers and there is automatic number plate recognition in these areas as well to verify all vehicles coming in and out of the port.
Since 2004, ADT has maintained and continuously updated this system. The radio links have been enhanced to secure Ethernet links, which transmit digital information. This has in turn created a Local Area Network (LAN) for all data coming from the remote sites that is centrally managed from the same workstations in two control rooms.
Any alarm events that occur from the intruder systems or any alarms from the access control system report onto the same PC through this LAN. The operator viewing this PC in the control room also monitors the CCTV, so he can instantly view the alarm, identify its cause and respond quickly. This means the port’s incident response follows a consistent procedure, as the same operators are situated in the control rooms monitoring and effectively running the whole port, as opposed to different people working at the five terminals who would need to remain in constant communication with one another.
The most important factor for the port is that it is a flexible solution and they can adjust the system when required. All the software and equipment is upgradeable and fully backward compatible to the point where ADT can seamlessly add a 2010 version of the equipment into the existing solution.
ADT’s ‘on the ground’ network of experts will provide support and assistance to ensure that the system continues to be effective into the future and that the Port of Cork remains a forerunner for on-land maritime security.
Images for this article - click to enlarge
Unless otherwise stated, all images copyright © Mercator Media 2012. This does not exclude the owner's assertion of copyright over the material.
