Durban - South Africa's harbours are set to be watched by 2 100 high definition cameras in a bid to keep the country's ports safe, as well as the cargoes that pass through the ports.
Transnet National Ports Authority (TNPA) chief executive Richard Vallihu said in a statement released on Monday that the closed circuit television (CCTV) camera system would be rolled out to all of the country's eight commercial ports as well as TNPA's head office.
“The CCTV system will be integrated between all ports and the head office to give a bird's eye view of the port security environment. It comprises 2100 high definition cameras across various sites as well as long range cameras to monitor all port entrances and outer anchorages.”
The number of CCTV cameras installed will be more than double the previous 864 cameras that had been installed. Vallihu opened the newly renovated control room in Durban on Friday. Once completed, the project is expected to have cost TNPA R843 million. Vallihu did not say when the project was expected to be completed.
“The National Ports Act 12 of 2005 and the International Ship and Port Facility Security (ISPS) Code of 2004 dictate that we as a port authority implement measures to assist in detecting security threats and take preventative measures against security incidents that may affect ships or port facilities used in international trade.”
Some of the features of the new CCTV system include increased night visibility through thermal imaging that can detect heat emitted by objects or bodies, especially in low visibility areas and through smoke, fog and haze. Vallihu said that some of the most common security incidents in South African ports can include stowaways, theft of cargo and damage or theft of assets owned by Transnet and other port users.
Apart from Durban, the system will be installed in Cape Town, Port Elizabeth, Richards Bay, East London, Saldanha, Ngqura and Mossel Bay, with the Johannesburg head office being able to access the system.
African News Agency
* Use IOL’s Facebook and Twitter pages to comment on our stories. See links below.