Throughout history, seaports have been key drivers of economic, social and cultural development. From the ancient commercial enclaves of the Mediterranean to the modern logistics hubs of today, these spaces have served as gateways to the world, connecting regions, boosting trade and fostering the exchange of ideas and cultures.
Today, their strategic importance has only strengthened, as evidenced by the data: according to the United Nations Conference on Trade and Transport (UNCTAD), more than 90% of world trade is transported by sea. In addition to their crucial role in the transport of goods, ports are becoming increasingly important in the transit of passengers, especially in the high season in which we are currently immersed. Tourist cruises, ferries, private vessels and commercial routes coincide in a space where people, luggage, industrial cargo and sensitive materials coexist.
Security in complex and dynamic environments
The management of a seaport represents one of the greatest security challenges. The complexity lies not only in its size or infrastructure, but also in the daily confluence of thousands of different actors: internal operators, carriers, subcontractors, visitors and passengers. This dynamism creates a highly vulnerable environment without security systems capable of adapting, integrating and reacting in a coordinated manner.
In this context, isolated measures are not enough. The key is that all the elements that make up the security ecosystem - from access control to video surveillance or intrusion detection systems - speak the same language. That is, that they are interconnected, share information in real time and can be managed from a single interface that allows security personnel to act quickly and accurately.
DASSnet: integration as the key
Aware of this need, DORLET provides its customers with DASSnet, a technological solution that enables comprehensive management of all the security systems deployed in a port environment. Through a single platform, DASSnet facilitates the supervision and centralised control of operations as diverse as access management, video surveillance (VMS), number plate reading, intrusion detection systems, fire detection and emergency public address systems.
It also offers specific functionalities for these complex environments, such as the establishment of different security levels (automatic, semi-automatic and maximum security) depending on the criticality of the access, guaranteeing that only authorised persons can access the most sensitive areas and remain in that space only for the time necessary to carry out their task.
In parallel, number plate reading (LPR) also makes it possible to quickly and accurately identify which vehicles, including trucks, are entering and leaving the port. In addition, by reading TAGs, it is possible to detect the passage of a vehicle carrying dangerous goods, allowing full traceability of movements within the port and minimising the risk of accidents or malicious acts.
The ‘paperless clearance’ functionality, which works via webservice integration with the Tax Agency, allows checking whether the papers are in order and sending the corresponding information to the TA. Depending on their response, the departure from the port is authorised or not. Beyond the economic role, DASSnet can also be integrated with police agencies, favouring the loading of blacklists, speeding up the sending of warnings in the event of detection of individuals with a criminal record.
All these functionalities, in addition to the management of the subsystems present in the installation, are managed from a single, fully modular interface. DASSnet provides operators with a global, real-time view of the security status of the site. This centralised management facilitates decision-making, shortens incident response times and significantly improves coordination between departments and security forces.
Towards proactive, connected and intelligent security
The criticality of ports is more than remarkable: let's remember that 90% of international goods are transported by sea and that, in addition, they have a regular and abundant transit of travellers, especially in the summer season. This reality requires robust systems such as those proposed by DORLET, capable of integrating all the security systems and centralising information.
Seaports must necessarily change their paradigm. It is no longer enough to have reactive security that acts when an emergency situation arises; it is now more important than ever to have proactive, connected and intelligent security that allows risks to be anticipated long before they become a real threat.
