Jens Nielsen, Ulm

Port of Tanger Med: security hot spot between Africa and Europe Integrated Security Systems to answer the challenges in a globalised world

by Jens Nielsen, Head of Integrated Systems, Cassidian, Ulm

Up until now, the historical bases for maritime security have been essentially national and to a large extent they still are, since maritime security remains one of the sovereign duties of the State. Nevertheless, although globalisation has introduced new opportunities, it has also introduced new threats. At least 90% of commercial transport is seaborne, making maritime security and safety top priorities for the world economies. But it is not the biggest issue authorities have to deal with: since the beginning of the third millennium, mass terrorism, piracy, illegal immigration, smuggling and environmental hazards have been intensifying.

Governments are therefore increasingly going to open themselves to a more global and highly integrated way of addressing the question of maritime security, while incorporating their national achievements. Initiatives like the ISPS (International Ship & Port Security) Code for goods transport or EUROSUR for the surveillance of the Schengen borders go in this direction.

Integrated maritime security solutions Cassidian is playing a key role in developing integrated security solutions, whether on the ground, in the air or at sea. Regarding maritime security, Cassidian‘s expertise ranges from coastal surveillance to comprehensive security solutions reaching as far as the EEZ (Exclusive Economic Zone). Cassidian has already installed maritime solutions in more

Jens Nielsen is Head of CASSIDIAN’s Integrated Systems Business Line. Born in Denmark in 1962, he graduated with an MoS in Aeronautical Engineering from the Technical University of Munich in 1990. The same year he began working for Dornier as a Flight Test Systems Engineer on the Do328 programme. From 1994 to 1999 he worked for BMW Rolls-Royce and was assigned as Senior Engineer to the BR715/B717 programme at McDonnell Douglas/Boeing. In 1999 he became Chief Systems Engineer for Fairchild Dornier’s 728 jet airliner programme and in 2002 Head of Engineering for Controls and Navigation Systems at Diehl Avionik Systeme. Mr Nielsen joined EADS CASSIDIAN ELECTRONICS in 2005, where his last position was that of Head of the Mission Avionics Business Line. Photo: private

than 40 countries, comprising over 100 control centres as well as more than 500 radars.IMARSECTM (Integrated Maritime Security) is Cassidian‘s maritime security system. Its purpose is to enhance maritime security and safety thanks to fully integrated solutions designed to prevent and fight threats and tailored to protect such areas as ports, refineries and coast

Components of the integrated security system of Tanger Med Graphic: © KircherBurkhardt Infografik

50 lines or on the high seas. One important reference is the Tanger Med harbour in northern Morocco, where the integrated security system has been in operation since June 2013.

Vital need to protect Africa’s largest port Tanger Med is the largest port in Africa and a hub for shipping between Southeast Asia and Europe on the Strait of Gibraltar, with the European coastline visible at just 14 kilometres’ distance. One third of the world’s container ships pass through this strait. The Tanger Med Port Authority (TMPA) is responsible for guaranteeing the protection of the area against thieves, illegal immigrants, drug-traffickers and terrorists. The average number of illegal attempts to enter the port is 600 per month –with a record of 1600 in one month – the aim being to stow away on vessels to Europe. For TMPA, it was important to enter into long-term collaboration with a respected contractor and to opt for the most advanced technology. At Tanger Med, Cassidian has deployed and integrated 15 subsystems, representing over 2 000 electronic devices.

A wide range of systems and subsystems The system is used by the majority of Tanger Med security authorities as well as by customs and police. Vessel Traffic Services (VTS) employ radars, cameras and a communications system to monitor ships, in order, for example, to prevent collisions. Maritime or land-based threats are addressed by integrated subsystems such as intelligent video surveillance, biometric access control, scanners or secure communications. The 12 km long fences around the port area are equipped with 700 sensors within a system known as Perimeter Intrusion Detection. If, for instance, someone attempts to climb over the fence, this is detected by the sensors. The site is also equipped with 470 cameras. In contrast to conventional video surveillance, the system is capable of drawing attention to the correct video images. If the sensors detect a movement along the fence, the relevant video images are automatically displayed to the operator. A Patrol Management System identifies the locations of the security staff in real-time using Professional Mobile Radio GPS. If the system detects a possible threat, the patrol closest to the threat site is alerted. The hypervisor software, which manages all these subsystems and collects all the relevant information, is called iPORT and was fully developed by Cassidian. The centrepiece of the system is the control room: this is where all the information comes together, to allow the right decision to be made at the right time. Between 15 and 20 attempts at unauthorised entry into the port are thwarted every day. Without the system, this would be impossible.

Documentation

EUROSUR regulation adopted by the Council

On 22 October 2013, the Council of the European Union adopted the regulation establishing the European Border Surveillance System (EUROSUR), which aims to reinforce control of the Schengen external borders. EUROSUR will establish a mechanism for Member States’ authorities carrying out border surveillance activities to share operational information and to cooperate with each other and with the FRONTEX Agency in order to reduce the number of irregular migrants entering the EU undetected, and to increase internal security by preventing cross-border crime, such as trafficking in human beings and the smuggling of drugs.

The new system is expected to contribute to improving the operational and technical ability of the Agency and the Member States to detect small vessels, and to become one of the key tools enabling the EU to prevent tragedies at sea such as that which took place recently off the island of Lampedusa (Italy). In this respect, the Regulation states: “The practice of travelling in small and unseaworthy vessels has dramatically increased the number of migrants drowning at the southern maritime external borders. EUROSUR should considerably improve the operational and technical ability of the Agency and Member States to detect these small vessels and to improve the reaction capability of the Member States thereby contributing to reducing the loss of lives of migrants”.

The EUROSUR system has been progressively developed since 2008. It will improve daily cooperation between national authorities by establishing an information sharing and cooperation mechanism, which will enable Member States’ authorities to carry out coordinated border surveillance activities and work with FRONTEX at the tactical, operational and strategic levels. EUROSUR will apply to the surveillance not only of the external land and sea borders of the Member States but also of their air borders, as well as to checks at border crossing points if the Member States voluntarily provide such information to EUROSUR.

The EUROSUR regulation will apply to the Member States located at the southern and eastern external borders as of 2 December 2013 and to the remaining member states from 1 December 2014 onwards. Denmark, Ireland and the United Kingdom are not taking part in the adoption of this regulation.

Source: Council of the European Union