Page 60 - Security Today, February 2017

Port-ability Keeping up with recent changes and challenges
BWy E. Anthony Incorvati
hen it comes to protecting transportation hubs, seaports have their own set of chal- lenges. To mitigate potential risks along water-facing perimeters requires advance security measures, while busy container
yards, entry gates and terminals need solutions that strike a deli- cate balance between security, safety and operational efficiency. Those challenges will continue to compound as container volume increases sharply in the coming decades. Port operators will have to find creative ways to manage the expected growth in com- merce, using technology to help expedite the flow and inspection of containers as they moved to and from the yards.
I sat down with my colleague, Jeff Brown, to discuss how ports are currently using network video surveillance technology to ad- dress those challenges. Jeff is the Managing Partner of Transpor- tation Technology Associates based in Melbourne Beach, Fla., and a recognized expert witness on matters of port security and operations by the Federal Court of Appeals. Jeff also spent many years as head of security at a major U.S. seaport.
Anthony Incorvati: Have you seen any changes in recent years in how U.S. ports deal with safety and security issues?
Jeff Brown: Up until 15 years ago, most ports adhered to the minimum requirements of the Coast Guard for cruise terminals and facilities handling certain dangerous cargos. Since then, the government passed the Maritime Transportation Safety Act which led to the development of a comprehensive Code of Reg- ulations for maritime/port security. Port operators are now re- quired to do a risk assessment of their port and facilities and de- velop and implement a comprehensive security plan that meets these federal standards.
That being said, port operators quickly realized that they couldn’t possibly implement those security measures with person- nel alone. So the owners started turning to surveillance systems as force multipliers.
Interestingly enough, once ports began investing in cameras for security operations departments started asking for access to camera systems so they could monitor activity in and around the terminals from an efficiency and safety perspective.
Incorvati: What are some of the strategic ways cameras are being used for port security?
Brown: Typically ports deploy cameras for perimeter security. They’re looking to keep a close eye on fence lines, gates, turn- stiles, and waterside access areas. For instance, having cameras at the gates makes it possible to visually verify that an access card cardholder and the access credential match one another before releasing the gate lock or the turnstile.
Cameras are also being used to scan the inside of vehicles to make sure there’s only one occupant so that unauthorized indi- viduals don’t enter the facility covertly or by piggybacking on a legitimate person’s entry in a turnstile. Video cameras are also being used to capture information about the vehicle and its cargo – the license plate and the container numbers – which can be than
be matched to the registered shipper, the truck and driver. That way security has a better sense of who’s coming into the port and what they’re bringing with them. The captured video also serves as a forensic record that can be used to locate the driver and, hopefully, the container in the event the container is inadvertently released or stolen.
Waterside security presents its own particular challenges. Sun reflecting off the water during the daytime washes out a camera view. At nighttime, the waterside is pitch-black making it difficult to detect covert approaches. Security departments are addressing waterside surveillance issues with a strategic combination of ther- mal cameras and other motion sensors such as radar.
Incorvati: Can you talk about some of the other types of cameras being deployed for security?
Brown: Historically, ports used analog cameras. But we’re seeing a shift to IP-based cameras as ports are becoming more techni- cally savvy. That’s proven to be significantly advantageous, not only in terms of infrastructure requirements but also in terms of system capabilities. Instead of the long runs of coax cable needed for analog systems, IP-based systems connect to the port’s existing fiber networks. Once cameras are connected to the network, security staff can log into the cameras remotely from authorized mobile devices as well as traditional desktops in the security command center.
Ports, by virtue of their diverse environments, rely on a diverse portfolio of cameras to capture the details they need for foren- sic investigations and maritime security. Thermal cameras, as I mentioned before, are popular for detecting waterside approach- es at night. You’ll also find a variety of fixed and pan/tilt/zoom network cameras, network cameras with wide-angle lenses, day/ night network cameras, lowlight network cameras, and network cameras with 360 degree capabilities being used to cover critical port and facilities areas 24/7, 365 days a year.
Incorvati: Now that we’ve talk about the security side, what’s different about the way a port’s operations department uses the video cameras?
Brown: Basically the focus on the operations side is on efficiency and safety – whether it’s the movement of cargo or the movement of cruise ship passengers. It all starts with traffic outside the gate on roadway approaches. The quicker you move containers and
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0217 | SECURITY TODAY
PORT SECURITY
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