Maritime security in ports: Risks, challenges and opportunities
The SMAUG project reached out to its Port Authorities partners to understand their current challenges, operational needs, and expectations from the project’s solutions. These conversations offer a ground-level perspective on how security risks are evolving, shaped by global dynamics and regional trends, and how innovative tools being developed through SMAUG could support their daily operations. Their insights provide valuable input for aligning technical developments with practical, real-world requirements.
Let’s explore the insights from the Port of Drammen in Norway!
The port of Drammen is one of Norway’s most efficient logistics and transportation hubs, connecting sea, rail, and road. As a multimodal hub for goods handling, the Port of Drammen operates across five primary segments: rolling cargo (RoRo), dry bulk, liquid bulk, containers, and project cargo.
Risks in everyday operations and needs
“Drammen is usually a tranquil port – and still is. However, the Global situation in Europe has raised new possible threats when it comes to illegal items or persons trying to enter Norway. At the same time, Norway has become a transit point for drugs to Europe. By coincidence, several shipments of drugs have been detected in Norway in recent years, a large amount for the Norwegian market. Last year, we were contacted more than before by customs, immigration and police for the cases mentioned above.”
SMAUG’s impact on the day-to-day business
“At first, we thought this was a perfect opportunity to be updated with potential future solutions, while being at the same time the ‘traditional voice’ in the project. With specific expertise in ports and shipping, over the last year, we have learnt that the possible solutions from this project will be a substantial help for ports and governmental stakeholders/end-users. The project’s solutions will provide us with innovative tools to conduct a more thorough detection of activity in our port and its surroundings, including underwater and aerial areas. We are looking forward to the second half of this product with real-time testing in different conditions.”
