Siemens has implemented an integrated physical security solution throughout Port Manatee, which is located at the entrance to Tampa Bay and is the closest US deep-water seaport to the Panama Canal.
The system combines access control and physical security infrastructure management technologies in order to help the cargo-only port address its security needs, ensure compliance with federal TWIC (Transportation Worker Identification Credential) requirements, and support its overall business objectives.
The facility’s security solution has allowed Port Manatee to streamline its processes and increase efficiency by enabling officials to track the movement of goods throughout the port and establish workflows to manage different commodity types – making sure the right cargo is moved in and out properly.
This is a considerable undertaking for a port that has more than 7.25 million tonnes of cargo passing through annually, supports 24,000 jobs and contributed to more than US$2.3 billion in regional economic activity in 2015.
Dave Hopping, President of Siemens’ Building Technologies Division in the Americas, said: “To address Port Manatee’s needs, we paired our extensive experience in deepwater seaports with two of our key security technologies – the SiPass access control management system and Siveillance Vantage command and control system.
“This winning duo created a single security solution that is flexible enough to address the wide range of activities and enhance port domain awareness and day-to-day operations that take place at the port.”
Using a combination of hardware and digital technology, the Siemens solution has established greater accountability and direct collaboration between port security and seaport tenants, with a one-to-one match for accountability of cargo released to trucks.
Technical Paper: Optimising port security: the effective use of surveillance cameras
This allows Port Manatee to better track and manage movement in the port and to identify which escort and monitoring services are accessed by different users.
The one-to-one match between users and cargo has given Port Manatee greater transparency into who is using which service, also allowing the port to recoup more of its own costs.
David St. Pierre, Director of Seaport Security at Port Manatee, said: “The Siemens security solution has been very helpful in improving our compliance measures. Before, we had a hard time keeping track of people and cargo, while maintaining an audit trail.
“The Siemens system is built around compliance, so from the time people come in and tell us what they’re doing, we can track them.”
The SiPass access control system allows Port Manatee security personnel to monitor who enters restricted areas of the port and when, via access cards.
The system helps the port meet TWIC requirements while also helping ensure tighter control over cargo manifest releases for all truckers, whether TWIC cardholders or visitors requiring issuance of temporary credentials.
Integrating the access control system with the Siveillance Vantage command and control system lets port personnel also monitor employee and visitor movements via video surveillance.
This physical security infrastructure management system provides a single interface to also manage other building systems such as security lighting needed for night-time cargo operations.
Siemens developed customised workflows within the Siveillance solution and integrated systems critical to those processes, such as monitoring of refrigeration alarms for perishable items.
