Transport via air and sea plays a huge role in international trade and the economy. Think of the container ship that got stuck in the Suez Canal. The Ever Given ship lasted for six days and that lone incident delayed $9 billion worth of goods for each day. Oil prices jumped as well.
The goods that get to our doorsteps go through complicated processes like this. As much as we order online and consume stuff from different countries, we might not know much about the import procedures before they get to our doorsteps.
The majority of global cargo transport is sea freight. In Australia, the Maritime Transport and Offshore Facilities Security Act (MTOFSA) regulates maritime security including ports.
A port is an area between land and open waters where ships can anchor, or load and unload. To maintain its security, operators must have a maritime security plan that includes screening measures.
Screening and Clearing People, Goods and Vehicles
The police and certain customs officers have the authority to stop and search people, goods, and vessels on regulated ships. Aside from quick searches and scans on people, they also inspect cargoes if there are any hazardous or prohibited materials.
These can be radioactive or nuclear materials that can pose a threat, like RDDs. RDDS, or Radiological Dispersal Devices, also known as dirty bombs, use explosive force to contaminate an area with radioactive material. When a huge area in the community gets contaminated, it’s not just costly to solve it. It can also cause great panic in the community.
To inspect cargoes, ports use radiation portal monitors (RPM). RPMs are passive detection devices set up like portals. These are panels that stand on both sides of the road and scan all the vehicles that pass through. These devices can detect dangerous materials and prevent illegal transport.
Enhanced Innovative Detection Technologies
For busy environments like ports, security measures should not disturb activities too much. Delivering goods should be on time and as smooth as possible. In the UK, a recent study focused on the importance of detection technologies that have minimal impact on cargo flow.
To prevent any delay or repetition, screening systems should be able to inspect accurately and avoid false alarms. Monitors should be sensitive to different types of radiation to not miss anything.
Aside from this, one of the most considered factors for detectors is mobility. If the monitor is mobile or portable, it can get the maximum amount of data. In the future, detection networks spread around the area can be an alternative to RPMs, as they won’t take as much time and prevent any delays.
Radiation Monitors in Ports
Aside from RPMs, radiation monitors are useful in maintaining safe and productive operations. SensaWeb’s radiation monitors can handle multiple sites and show data in a single report. Once installed, these automatically capture radiation data continuously and require no input from end-users. If there are any exposures above the normal level, alerts will be sent immediately to the relevant staff member, who has been set up in the system.
SensaWeb’s technology provides real-time info on the organisation at a glance. You can customise the devices’ placement in the area and data dashboards are simple to understand.
Real data, real time, real simple. SensaWeb increases data collection and thus provides greater visibility. Increased visibility of data improves organisational control.
If you want to learn more about our monitoring solution, connect with us here. You can also call us at +61 415 409 467.