Port of Brisbane says any move towards biosecurity will depend on technology and is by no means imminent
By Rob McKay | October 20, 2010
The Port of Brisbane has emphasised that any move towards biosecurity will depend on development of the technology and is by no means imminent.
ATN reported earlier this week that National Information and Communications Technology Australia (NICTA), in collaboration with the port, was working on ways of continuing port operations with the least road congestion and other disruption to the supply chain in the event of a Maritime Security (Marsec) Level 2 alert.
Such an alert at present would lead to the manual checking of each truck driver entering the port precinct.
A port spokeswoman says that it had for some time supported NICTA’s research into the development of new security systems by facilitating access to the port for trials of new cameras.
“We are aware that NICTA is also looking at the development of a biometric gate system, including iris scanning technology,” the spokeswoman says.
“However, as far as [the port] is aware, this technology is only in research phase.
“There are no plans to trial or implement it at the Port of Brisbane.
“Any plans would first be subject to extensive consultation with the port’s stakeholders, including stevedores and transport operators.”
She added that current port security arrangements were considered “best practice”.