In Port Elizabeth, the United States, New Jersey-based Maher Terminals, one of the world's largest independent multi-user container terminal operators, relies on JVC to enhance traffic monitoring of the facility and loading areas and cranes loading containers onto the ships.

The company utilises JVC’s VR-N1600U network video recorders (NVR) and VN-C655U high performance IP-network based dome cameras. Here, Maher Terminals can easily provide access for up to 10 users to view terminal activities simultaneously to assure efficiency, traffic management and equipment performance.

“Maher is responsible for handling our customers’ cargo as expeditiously and economically as possible. As a leader in innovative cargo documentation and management systems, we require the highest quality products to complement our operations, which is why we chose JVC’s cameras and network video recorders,” said Louis J. Allora, director of crane maintenance and engineering, Maher Terminals LLC. “JVC’s cameras are very reliable and the interface is easy to use, so we’re able to quickly analyse video from a specific event. A lot of other interfaces are difficult to navigate; simple video downloading or adjusting camera parameters is very time effective with JVC.”

“JVC is happy to have been selected by Maher Terminals, a vital player in the cargo movement chain. Our surveillance solution is extremely flexible and scalable and complements Maher Terminals requirements now and in the future,” said Geoff Anderson, National Marketing Manager, Security Products, JVC Professional Products Company in the USA.

Maher Terminals’ traffic monitoring system utilizes the JVC VN-C655U pan/tilt/zoom (PTZ) cameras located in the terminals entry and exit complex, which handles more than 4,000 trucks a day. Monitoring the trucks enables Maher to ensure that trucks are loading and unloading containers properly, which helps Maher Terminals maintain excellent customer service. They also monitor traffic flows to alleviate backups. The VN-C655U 360° continuous rotation mechanism provides fast and accurate PTZ operation with superb accuracy.

The second system, monitors crane activity of cargo being loaded on and off vessels. Two cameras are installed on each crane, one on the back of the crane to monitor work being done under the crane and one camera in the cab to provide a direct view of the crane loading and unloading containers on and off the ships.

The crane cameras are networked to the VR-N1600U NVR enabling real-time viewing of all camera activity. With the VR-N1600U, Maher Terminals can view, record and playback video from any of the crane’s cameras. This enables Maher Terminals to investigate any incidents that may occur by reviewing the recordings to determine what caused the incident and develop prevention strategies to avoid a reoccurrence in the future.

“The cameras on the crane experience constant vibration and considerable impact every time the crane handles a cargo container,” added Allora. “And knowing the VR-N1600U comes with pre-installed Milestone XProtect software, which is widely industry accepted, we weren’t concerned about non-compatibility issues when we grow the system in the future.”

Maher Terminals remotely monitors the Lane Complex cameras with up to 15 simultaneous users and the crane activity with up to 12 simultaneous users, which utilises Milestone’s PC-based Client Application. With the Milestone Client Application, a user can monitor IP or analog-based cameras from non-dedicated desktop PCs.

Later this year, Maher plans to expand its monitoring by adding cameras to nine more cranes and additional VR-N1600U network video recorders.