Securing the Port of Le Havre
Securing the Port of Le Havre
Waterfall, fire, collision... ports are areas at risk for both ships and people and goods. In a port where traffic is important, safety is a real issue. In the port of Le Havre, nearly thirty ships come and go every day. What are the solutions to secure an area where traffic is dense? Company profile
Company profile
The General of Harbour Handling (GMP) is a society of harbour handling located at the entrance of the Channel. She has specialized in container management for over fifty years now. A skill it owes to the use of advanced technologies and the use of highly qualified personnel.
In addition to handling, the company also handles the transport and loading of containers and the handling of packages. Its subsidiary, ASCOT, manages the packaging, seizing and repair of containers. JELETRANS, another subsidiary, works in the repair of heavy goods vehicles and trailers.
To date, the GMP operates on three sites in Le Havre: the Quai de l'Europe, the Quai des Amériques and more recently the Terminal de France. The operator has some 1,200 employees, including 1,000 dockers trained to work on board, on the ground or in hold.
Background
The port of Le Havre is the first French maritime platform and the first port for the foreign trade of France. It hosts approximately 6,000 vessels of all sizes each year, including more than 250 giant containers, 7 days a week, 24 hours a day, regardless of the tide conditions. The port of Le Havre is also open to tourist activities. It is after Marseille, the second cruise port of France. Traffic, both in ships and passengers and in goods, is thus dense on the port of Le Havre. Although traffic and operations are fluid, safety measures must be strengthened.
Marine and port accidents are not negligible: 1,887 marine accidents were recorded in 2019. It is up to the managers of the harbour directorates or operators to put in place a system for managing port risks. The study of the risks related to the reception of ships, the management of dangerous goods and port security are part of the major aspects of securing the port of Le Havre. Working in the port area of Le Havre, the GMP must protect its site from various risks: intrusion, accident, fire
The challenge
The General of Harbour Handling puts a point of honor on the part safety and security of its activity. As such, the company has a QSSE (Quality-Security-Safety-Environment) service, ensuring the security of operations carried out by the GMP on the port of Le Havre. Both equipment and personnel benefit from risk prevention and protection measures, both on board and at dockside.
A2S has been asked by the company to find a sound system in order to prevent the approach of ships to docks and avoid any accidents of personnel on its site. As the port area is wide and activities are carried out both day and night, the risks are permanent. The customer was looking for an efficient and especially customizable installation. The challenge was to find a high-sound electronic siren for noisy environments, which is perfectly strong
Our approach
To meet the customer's needs, we reviewed our industrial sound alarms. A2S has a wide range of sirens specially adapted for industrial and marine environments. These are distinguished by their power, quality and certification. After considering the customer's request, our selection was placed on the waterproof SD 100 siren.
We sent the product to the GMP for testing and an overview of how it works. The SD 100 met its performance and resistance requirements. The client wanted to add a personalized message to the waterproof siren. Message that we integrated in the factory to facilitate the commissioning of the product. The SD 100 waterproof sirens were installed by the customer himself, assisted by an A2S team for settings.
Our solution
Among our sound alarms, SD 100 is the one that best meets customer expectations. This fiberglass reinforced polyester mermaid (GRP) is ideal for port areas, thanks in particular to its IP66/67 seal protection index. With a sound power of up to 123 dB (A), it has been designed for the most noisy non-ATEX environments.
The SD 100 can be used indoors as well as outdoors to alert a fire start, collapse or emergency evacuation. The product complies with EN 54. In the case of the customer, it allows to report arrival at the dock of ships and alerts the flight crew in case of danger. The SD 100 waterproof siren has three warning levels and gives the possibility to send a personalized message. Optionally, it can be triggered by a telephone line.
By this request of the GMP, A2S has proven its involvement and effectiveness in the security of the port sector. Our products are intended for both ATEX and non-ATEX areas. We are constantly working alongside industries to find a solution to their problems.
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