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Enterprise Security Magazine | Tuesday, August 01, 2023
Old technology like cameras and crewed vessels makes round-the-clock security difficult. Port officials are turning to emerge technology for better protection and lower costs.
FREMONT, CA: Port officials must maintain security 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. This work comprises threat detection and security response, continuous inspection of port assets, on-demand inspections after storms or other disasters, continual surveys to ensure navigable waterways, and a wide range of additional tasks.
The state-of-the-art port and harbor security now entail video surveillance from cameras positioned throughout the port and crewed vessel patrols of the port's large body of water. These metrics are decades old and have received few technical advancements.
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Most large ports utilize cameras to monitor the harbor. Some ports maintain scores of cameras, which involves having a command center and enough watch-standers to monitor this video in real-time, twenty-four hours a day. However, the video sent by cameras must be examined, or the cameras themselves are useless.
The capacity to patrol the harbor with a manned surface craft is present in almost all ports. However, manned watercraft operations are expensive, are typically limited by weather and water conditions, and physically burden those operating them. For most ports, numerous manned vessels are needed to ensure sufficient revisit time.
Attempting to offer 24-hour protection for ports with antiquated technologies like cameras and manned vessels presents significant obstacles. For this reason, port officials have looked to emerging technology that will enable them to provide better protection, at a lesser cost, for their ports and harbors.
Challenges of mega ports
POLA is the busiest U.S. port. There are 26 passenger and cargo terminals and 42 square miles of water.
Five hundred cameras currently protect the Port of Los Angeles throughout the port, as well as by manned vessels patrolling its expanse of water. It stresses the need for port authorities to provide 24/7 security.
The issues faced by the Port of Los Angeles are not unique and are similar to those of other ports. Like POLA, most ports have made incremental technological enhancements to their port and harbor security capabilities. A better strategy could be to harness what the POLA is doing by proactively seeking a cutting-edge technology solution to their security concerns.
The future of the port and harbor security
There is a reason that this kind of increased security methodology has yet to be reviewed previously. Before a few years ago, no technology could offer dependable and cheap unmanned surface vehicle support to supplement manned capabilities and broaden the reach of port authorities. This technology is available now with commercial off-the-shelf unmanned surface vessels, which can be deployed to boost the effectiveness of port protection.
Given the high labor expenses connected with monitoring cameras and patrol with manned vehicles, this new option will reduce the costs of providing port security. This is not to advocate that ports entirely abandon present means of patrol and inspection, but rather that they enhance these means with USVs. All countries must prioritize securing these important ports.
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