SMAUG Project team interviews!
We are thrilled to present our remarkable team and the collective journey we are embarking upon to a safer maritime environment!
As we gather in unity, each consortium partner brings a unique set of skills, perspectives, and expertise that contribute to the dynamic tapestry of our collaboration. The SMAUG team forms a cohesive force driven by a shared vision and a commitment to excellence aiming to improve and enhance the security of ports and their entrance routes.
A highly experienced consortium consisting of 22 partners including Universities, Research Centres, SMEs, Law Enforcement Agencies, Public authorities, Coastal / Border guards and Private organisations which span across 7 EU countries (Spain, Estonia, France, Italy, Germany, Greece, Norway) countries shaping the SMAUG consortium!
Let’s sail away to meet the SMAUG partners.
Heraklion Port Authority S.A. (Greece)
Kyriaki Kampana introduces Heraklion Port Authority S.A and her views on the SMAUG project!
Let us know more about yourself. How your expertise is linked with the project. What drives you to be involved in the project?
Heraklion Port Authority S.A. manages one of Greece’s twelve most important ports and is a founding member of the Hellenic Ports Association. The Port of Heraklion is the main gate for passenger, cruise and commercial traffic in Crete and the second one in passenger traffic in Greece. It has an excellent geostrategic position as it’s located in the middle of the South-Eastern Mediterranean basin. It is fully equipped and staffed to render highly competitive and efficient services to all forms of shipping. Heraklion Port Authority S.A. has a great experience in participating in European and Regional development projects, through which the port of Heraklion has improved both its infrastructure and the provided services, as end-user.
Heraklion Port Authority’s role in SMAUG. In which activities you are involved? Which results do you expect to generate?
HPA in this use case will try to improve the security level of the port, aiming at the following:
- Detection of drugs entering the port through various means, such as drugs hidden in the ships anchor, funnel, water inlets, hull, torpedoes, propeller or drugs entering through remote submarines.
- Detection of weapons and explosives. To achieve this, this use case will focus on the following activities:
- Detection of drugs, weapons and explosives attached to one of the aforementioned points on the vessel and
- Underwater threat monitoring tools.
How do you think SMAUG is expected to impact the community?
In the port of Heraklion, smuggling of weapons and explosives has been detected (due to the proximity of Crete to countries with intense political instability). The detection of the reported cases of smuggling is carried out through the successful cooperation of the competent law enforcement authorities responsible for the prevention and suppression of any illegal act at sea and land (Hellenic Coast Guard and Customs Services). However, underwater detection is the area where the existing security system of the port (as well as the majority of Greek ports) is lagging behind, since there are no modern underwater detection systems available from the aforementioned authorities.
And finally, what is the most exciting part of the SMAUG project?
The proposed system in the context of this specific use case will cover a great need that exists in the port and concerns underwater surveillance (mainly regarding the detection of drug, weapons and explosives smuggling). The utilization of the proposed technological equipment and the cooperation with the technological providers of the proposal in combination with the existing equipment available from the University of Piraeus will form the basis for the successful implementation.
Explore Heraklion Port Authority: https://www.portheraklion.gr/index.php/en/
Discover the SMAUG team!