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Engineering secure access

Located in Belfast, Northern Ireland, Harland and Wolff is one of Europe’s largest heavy engineering companies to the maritime, offshore oil and gas and renewable energy sectors. Purposely developed to create some of the world’s largest ocean going vessels, Harland and Wolff required a first class security solution to secure its vast site, to help ensure the safety of all employees and visitors and to improve overall business efficiency.

The CEM AC2000 access control system and range of access control readers and terminals, provides Harland and Wolff with security that is both comprehensive and flexible to meet its unique security demands.

As a large scale and potentially hazardous environment, with large numbers of people, the Harland and Wolff site presents a unique range of security challenges. Environmental health and safety management is a vital part of Harland and Wolff’s business, so selecting the right security management solution was of paramount importance.

Controlling and keeping track of persons on board a significant engineering project was the initial key driver for Harland and Wolff to engage with CEM Systems. With the potential for up to 1200 people to be on the rig at any one time, in a potentially hazardous environment, Harland and Wolff needed a realtime, scalable solution to know who was on board.

CEM worked with Harland and Wolff on the initial project to track people on a rig for health and safety purposes. This was a large project which was extremely condensed, with large numbers of concurrent activities and personnel required to carry out the work on the rig. The key challenge was to co-ordinate and control the activities and personnel and manage this in emergency situations.

CEM Systems’ AC2000 access control software with key modules including Mustering and Zone Monitor, combined with S610 intelligent readers in turnstiles and S3040 portable readers for the dry dock, provided a solution that ensured accurate person count data in case of an emergency.

Following the success of this project, Harland and Wolff implemented a comprehensive AC2000 security management system rollout and installed a range of access control readers across the site. Harland and Wolff use a range of AC2000 access control applications including Zone Monitor and Mustering, allowing the realtime monitoring of cardholder movements and also counts people in an area, a feature that is valuable in emergency situations. AC2000 Time and Attendance also records employee attendance.

AC2000 Security Hub

Harland and Wolff uses the AC2000 Security Hub for alarm and CCTV event management. Security Hub is the centralised command and control application for AC2000. It seamlessly blends IP security surveillance systems and alarm processing into a single, simple and intuitive user interface.

emerald TS300f – intelligent access fingerprint terminal.

emerald, intelligent access terminals, are installed at the Harland and Wolff reception building. Featuring a touch-screen reader and controller in one, and built-in Voice over IP (VoIP) intercom functionality, emerald removes the need for an additional intercom system. emerald enables data normally only available on the AC2000 access control client PC to be accessed locally and securely at the door through its range of remote applications.

It displays realtime security information and statistics such as card status, scheduled visitors, top system alarms and most recent alarms on the terminal. The built-in audio intercom also allows visitor communication with the reception desk and remote door opening.

Biometric security

High security areas, including the Harland and Wolff server room and equipment warehouse, are secured with emerald TS300f fingerprint readers, requiring biometric verification for the entry of authorised staff. The emerald TS300f Intelligent Fingerprint Terminal from CEM Systems is a multifunctional touch-screen access terminal with biometric verification. The TS300f not only provides more intelligence at the door with remote applications, but now ensures more security where an additional level of biometric verification is required. In the equipment warehouse, emerald’s Checklist Entry feature allows Harland and Wolff to prompt staff on exit to sign the register if they are removing any tools or equipment.

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