Port awards $8 million dollar security contract
April 30, 2007
Ultra announces that its Maritime Systems business, based in Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada, has been awarded a contract from the Halifax Port Authority valued at C$8million for the provision of the Halifax Port Authority Command and Control System (HPACCS).
The Ultra HPACCS solution includes the ability to detect and track small vessels and to initiate alarms on incursion into predetermined zones. The system will display radar tracks on electronic charts, annotate them with data transmitted by the vessel’s Automatic Information System (AIS) transponder and automatically cue cameras onto targets of interest using intelligent object recognition, tracking and scene analysis. The system incorporates access control, perimeter fence monitoring, chemical detection and an incident management solution. The Ultra solution provides appropriate levels of information and secure access to a diverse group of regional users such as port police, port operations staff, first responders, harbour pilots and other approved agencies. Users will be able to access the system via the Internet through an intuitive web portal and view real-time vessel locations incorporating AIS data and Lloyd’s registry information. The system will highlight those vessels carrying dangerous or hazardous cargo and also delivers a comprehensive port management suite incorporating vessel scheduling and berth management, harbour pilot scheduling, billing and maritime security alert management within a single integrated platform.
Offering a deep, ice-free harbour, the Port of Halifax is the only port on the eastern seaboard able to accommodate fully-laden post-Panamax ships. The Port of Halifax boasts quick throughput times, efficient intermodal links with rail and terminal capacity to grow. “With extensive experience in creating integrated security and surveillance solutions we are pleased to announce that a local company, Ultra Electronics has been selected to deliver the Halifax Port Authority Command and Control System” said Gord Helm, Manager, Port Security & Marine Operations, Halifax Port Authority.
Douglas Caster, Chief Executive Officer of Ultra, commented, “We are pleased to have been selected by the Halifax Port Authority to supply the first fully integrated command and control and port security solution in Canada. Ultra’s robust, flexible and highly reliable solution combines best-of-breed technologies and will underpin the Group’s continuing success in the fast-growing homeland security market.”
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Enquiries:
Ultra Electronics Holdings plc +44 (0)20 8813 4321
Douglas Caster, Chief Executive www.ultra-electronics.com
Andy Hamment, Group Marketing Director information@ultra-electronics.com
Ultra Electronics Maritime Systems (902)-466-7491
Nick Edwards, Marketing Manager nick.edwards@ultra-uems.com
Halifax Port Authority
Michele Peveril
Manager, Corporate Communications & Public Affairs (902)-426-1060
E-mail: mpeveril@portofhalifax.ca
