Mexico. The Integral Port Administration incorporated a scalable IP solution within its infrastructure guaranteeing a safe and efficient environment to meet the needs of its customers and users.
With approximately 11 berthing positions, 9 border patrol stops, 14 private terminals and 4 companies dedicated to intermodal operations, the Port Administration of Coatzacoalcos is located in one of the most important maritime commercial areas in Mexico. Every day thousands of boats (commercial and federal) and people transit to the different points of anchorage, storage, protection and security review.
The intensification of daily commutes in recent years, added to an increase in security incidents, made more urgent the modernization and expansion of the video surveillance system, which until recently was very limited in technology and type of equipment; which made it difficult to carry out an efficient monitoring in the different points that make up the port.
Tailor-made solutions
With the aim of carrying out permanent monitoring to provide a safe environment for vessels, operational personnel and users, the Integral Port Administration of Coatzacoalcos put into operation an advanced video surveillance system with IP cameras from Axis Communications, installed through the company Milestone, Partner of Axis
Old analog equipment was replaced, with fixed models and PTZ domes. This implementation included berthing positions, security gates and warehouses (with more than 10 km of extension along the port).
An innovative path for change
The IP cameras installed within the port infrastructure offer a record of the movement of ships and agents working in the port that allow to maintain order and act quickly in case of an incident.
Faced with the success obtained, efficient monitoring was provided 24/7, which maximized the surveillance operation and security by 90%, in what is now one of the largest and most modern video surveillance projects in the region.
With the difficulty of executing an adequate and efficient monitoring with analog cameras, the Port Administration of Coatzacoalcos began a new planning to unify and optimize the operation of its cameras.
Under the direction of Ovidio Noval Nicolau, General Director of the Integral Port Administration of Coatzacoalcos, analog equipment, with low image quality, has been replaced by high-resolution IP cameras from Axis.
For this transition, fixed cameras and PTZ domes were acquired, with HDTV and Full HD resolution.
With the installation of the IP cameras, the API Coatzacoalcos decided to take a step forward and became the first port to adopt monitoring technology, cameras with Full HD lenses to visualize the entire demarcation that makes up the port with the possibility of zooming to identify details of the images without losing all the wide vision.
The installation of this solution places the API at the forefront of global video surveillance, allowing its operational agents to visualize all areas in high definition with the possibility of approaching in detail while still visualizing the complete scenarios. This type of technological development allows a more effective work by security managers and other agents in the identification of people, reduction of incidents and the delivery of a quality service to users who visit the port.
Currently, the API uses motion detection software with Axis network cameras to identify and control the access of people, boats and vehicles in and around the port. The Administration is also confident in the cameras' ability to provide high image quality in dark or low-light environments.
The API obtained a remarkable return on investment of 90% in surveillance and security operations. One factor that contributed significantly to this success was the storage capacity of large amounts of audio and video data, by Milestone's video recorders, used for future testing and analysis. Remote monitoring capabilities of solutions also play a critical role in providing immediate attention to any accidents or disturbances that occur in the vicinity of the port.
Total Supervision
Overall, the new IP system has provided Management with many business benefits, including a better customer experience, savings on maintenance expenses, and optimizing response time for customer service. Due to the growing needs and business requirements to maintain high security standards, the API invests in researching additional technologies to make your IP video surveillance system more robust.
"In the various experiences we have had with the video surveillance system, Axis has been the best choice as it provides crisp and clear images that are useful for improving port security. And their devices are still working after many years of operation under extreme conditions and in periods of 24 hours a day, 365 days," says Nicolau.
