Page 5 - Logistics News - November December 2022

TH O UGHT LEAD ERS HIP

authority aims to have the new port operational by 2026 and operate. Port facilities also fall victim to crimes such as theft
hopes it will serve as the first step in realising South Africa’s and vandalism.
green hydrogen strategy.
It might be banal to say everything is connected, but,
With projects such as Boegoebaai and investments where economic activity is concerned, everything is connected,
at ports across the region, pertinent questions must be and South Africa’s ports need to take a holistic approach
asked about the security and efficiency challenges this to their security strategies. They need to mitigate a variety
critical infrastructure faces. When it comes to such an of risks, and that calls for a variety of solutions, including
essential partnership between the public and private network surveillance, proactive monitoring and access control.
sectors, only world-leading logistics and technology
solutions will do. A toolbox of solutions
From a cargo standpoint, IP-based surveillance technology can
South Africa’s shipping potential help improve efficiency by giving officials a way to remotely
With its roots in shipping dating back centuries, South monitor data, such as container identification and rail car
Africa has always enjoyed a significant position in the numbers, rather than having to check them in person. Officials
global shipping trade to effectively capitalise on its exports. can also conduct remote inspections and check cargo for any
Situated on one of the busiest international sea routes, damage, thus minimising liability and ensuring personnel
the country’s ports have demonstrated real potential. safety. This is important to consider when we’re talking about a
Between 2017 and 2018, the Port of Richard’s Bay achieved fuel of the future like green hydrogen.
a milestone in handling over 100 million tons of cargo,
while Cape Town, South Africa’s second biggest seaport, Multi-sensor cameras that offer wide-angle coverage
has a strategic location as a hub terminal for cargo to South and are equipped with manoeuvring functions like pan, tilt
America and the Far East. and zoom can ensure perimeter security while minimising
blind spots. Built with all kinds of environments in mind,
Especially where the proposed Boegoebaai port is 24/7 coverage is guaranteed thanks to thermal functionality.
concerned, ports and the shipping sector itself play an Capable of outputting high-resolution video, cameras allow
important role in South Africa reaching new frontiers in officials to identify specific details of intruders and incidents
economic growth and our ability to tap into new markets. that take place.
For example, the development of zero-carbon fuels
infrastructure, such as green hydrogen, to serve South Ports are busy sites with multiple entities engaging in
Africa’s shipping sector could yield up to R29.2 billion in various activities while entering and exiting at all times of the
onshore infrastructure by 2030. Herein lies a substantial day. Achieving access control starts with enabling every point
opportunity to further the country’s economic ambitions of entry with products such as intercoms (both video- and
and, not inconsequentially, position the country as a audio-enabled) and software-driven solutions such as license
global producer of zero-carbon fuels. It is only right that plate recognition and RFID readers.
comprehensive steps be taken to safeguard the infrastructure
that helps move this valuable industry. These solutions offer an additional benefit: scalability.
Modern surveillance and monitoring systems are built to
The challenges we face accommodate any maritime environment while offering
For all their apparent potential, South Africa’s ports are the same level of security as other critical infrastructure.
under threat. Currently, they rank among some of the By partnering with a trusted vendor who can provide
lowest performing in the world. Issues related to equipment, wholesale support pre-, during and post-installation,
such as reliability and availability, have been identified as South African ports can be transformed into trade and L O GI S T I CS NEWS
key problems. Crime and corruption have contributed to transport powerhouses made up of different stakeholders
the neglect of critical infrastructure such as roads and rail all working together at an assured level of safety and
networks, which, in turn, can impact a port’s ability to efficiency to grow the economy. •

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