Dubai ports to upgrade security systems

Pusan: Dubai's ports are to be given new, state-of-the-art security systems as part of a series of planned upgrades.

Sultan Bin Sulayem, chairman of DP World, which owns and operates the UAE ports, told Gulf News exclusively that the new security systems would be similar to that installed at Pusan New Port terminal, which opened in South Korea last Thursday.

"On the Pusan project we have utilised technologies that haven't been used even in Dubai. The use of lasers, new alert equipment, the handling systems and overall security are all state of the art," he said.

During a tour of the Korean port last Thursday, Bin Sulayem was impressed by the sophisticated security installation. He said he would talk to Korea's Samsung Corporation, which installed the system at Pusan.

"What impressed me about Pusan's security system was the way that it can detect possible security issues," he added. "We already have a plan to upgrade the security system in Dubai, so it is natural for us to look at the system we have here in Pusan."

Patrick Bol, operations director at Pusan Newport Company, said the multi-million dollar security system complied with the latest global standards for port safety, such as ISPS (International Safety in Port Security) and C-TPAT (Customs Trade Partnership Against Terrorism).

"Our equipment innovation includes a state of the art security control room, with 50 CCTV cameras, motion detection fencing and auto explosive detection at the gate," he said.

Bin Sulayem stressed that Dubai's ports already had well maintained security systems, but they now needed to be upgraded and modernised. This is especially true of Port Rashid.

"We have cameras that are 20 years old and a system that is the same age, so we are due to change it. What we like about the Pusan system is that it can react quickly, which will be especially useful in larger ports such as Jebel Ali," he said.