Case study: CCTV in UK port security
The use of new CCTV technology to protect the UK’s largest port has helped to counter a range of security threats.
The Port of Grimsby and Immingham, the UK’s largest port by tonnage, is using the latest digital networked CCTV technology from Dedicated Micros to maximise security and the port’s operational and logistical processes.
In August 2007, owner-operator Associated British Ports (ABP) contracted DJ Byers CCTV to upgrade the existing analogue CCTV system.
The initial installation across the port’s two sites included three types of digital video recorder (DVR) from Dedicated Micros’ NetVu Connected products range.
Corresponding DV-IP Encoders providing IP functionality for the existing analogue CCTV cameras were specified at the same time.
“The original brief from ABP was very simple – to upgrade the analogue CCTV system to digital,” DJ Byers CCTV Managing Director David Byers said.
“However, with 41 legacy cameras across the two ports and a requirement from ABP that the new installation make use of these cameras and allow for further expansion, the project required careful planning.”
The key stumbling blocks were the size of the port’s two sites and the lack of flexibility of the existing system.
All the cameras were hard wired and only relatively small areas were being monitored by localised groups of cameras managed by local control centres.
This made the cameras very task-oriented and opportunities were being missed for security cameras to be used for other applications such as monitoring port vehicles.
The solution needed to ensure operability across both wireless and hard-wired networks.
However, the wireless network already carried radio and other network traffic, placing a limit on the bandwidth available for CCTV.
In the end, DVRs were installed to locally record images where limited capacity made it impossible to link back to the central control centre.
A total of three of the latest SD DVRs and three DVRs from the Eco range were installed to cope with local monitoring requirements, and 41 legacy cameras were connected to the system in this way.
To integrate the existing analogue cameras and the new digital recording equipment, three Dedicated Micros DV-IP Encoders were also installed.
To complement the upgrade, a Digital Sprite 2 (DS2) DVR was positioned at the central network hub for each port to allow the introduction of new IP cameras where and when required.
Prior to the system installation, cameras tended to be used for just one purpose, but the upgrade has allowed for the development of multiple applications.
The new CCTV system has broadened the scope of cameras across the port, with security footage now being used just as much for operational and logistical applications as for security reasons.
“Video evidence of what has occurred can also prove decisive in the resolution of disputes,” ABP IT Manager Gareth Cutts said.
“Every ship coming into the port has the potential to run into the side of the lock and we’ve a number of cases where arguments ensue over who was responsible.
"In the majority of cases, CCTV footage will settle the debate and the Dedicated Micros solution will now serve to make this much easier.”
“There is little doubt that the large scale nature of port sites and the volume of cargo they have to deal with present real security challenges for management,” Dedicated Micros ANZ General Manager Mark Romer said.
“It is therefore gratifying to see our NetVu Connected systems playing such a pivotal role in delivering a flexible and scalable networked digital CCTV solution to keep a watchful eye on ABP’s operations at Grimsby and Immingham.”