Whilst ports are rapidly expanding, there is no doubt that they need security management, but at the same time there is an urgent need for safe, highly-efficient and manageable services. There is also pressure on operators to ensure proper systems are in place. However, with large port supervision areas and sometimes complex situations, managing this civil defence can be difficult.

Usually a port area covers several square kilometres, but some port zones can reach tens of square kilometres. So covering a large jurisdiction combined with complex transportation, then add a large number of entrances, perimeter fences, long channels, large scale storage yards, and the numbers of berths it is not surprising that security needs have led to a dramatic increase in the number of workstations across a port. If only dependent on civil defence, how can maritime security keep a check on regular operations?

Now with the development of technology, illegal immigrants and organised crime have also affected safety management. But putting the human resources in place to effectively combat this issue would be very wasteful and in most cases the role would be pretty monotonous. Therefore, it makes sense to combine the protection approaches with intelligent defence.

Multiple management & resource sharing between different departments: Exchange and data-sharing is a part of informationisation. Ports view each workstation as a unit in terms of achieving video monitoring data. In most cases, the utilisation and management of video and business data are comparatively independent at each station. So there is a lack of an integrated, systematic and multi-level security network system. On top of this, ports have to balance demand for the correct allocation and access control from monitoring centers to sub-centers; sub-centres to monitoring points in customs; port bureaus of public security; maritime bureaus and border defence etc.

Intellectual reformation of ports: With the emergence of smart ports, the need for intellectualised safety management has become very apparent, particularly for the automated identification of containers, staff and drivers who frequently entry and exit the harbour. A multimedia integrated management system is required to support the IMS notification at each critical step of flow, and could be used in conjunction with a sign-in system and security system. Integrators can obtain basic data via electronic tags and cameras, to realise a whole-process and omnidirectional management control system for incoming and outgoing cargo. At the same time, the port safety can be guaranteed through facial recognition technology; tracking analysis; and video motion tools in cooperation with broadcast and sound-warning devices.

Practical monitoring: With the continual evolution of video surveillance products and technology monitoring requirements, their application in port zones needs to keep up with the times. Firstly high definition imaging - since ports gather large crowds of people, vehicles and boats across their extensive grounds, if you want to differentiate the details, you need to use a high resolution camera in order to support the application. In addition, poor light and remote monitoring at night are considerations. In a harbour, the majority of attacks happen on a dark night or during heavy fog, so it is important to ensure port safety in this kind of situation. Current high demands for use in ports includes remote surveillance, panoramic monitoring and products which must be explosion-proof and anti-corrosive.

So global ports are finding themselves in challenging situations. It is critical to find a way to turn this situation around. Below in the following video is a real case at Pescara harbour, an Italian port that benefits to significant trading and tourism hub stretching along the Adriatic Coast.