Electronic system to monitor ships at Jeddah Islamic Port

The Saudi Ports Authority has announced the installation of the first ever electronic monitoring system to monitor ships coming into and leaving Saudi ports.
The electronic system will also monitor workers’ movements and loading and unloading operation of shipments using cameras instead of supervision through manpower.
Musaad Al-Drees, director general of the authority said the installation of the electronic system was completed and it will be become operational in the next few days, monitoring both operations and safety issues at the ports.
He said the system will constantly monitor ships with cameras from the moment they enter Al-Mekhtaf area before entering the ports to reach the docks, and till they leave. “This thorough monitoring will eliminate glitches and malfunctioning in the loading and unloading processes which will lead to minimizing delays as much as possible,” he said.
Al-Drees said the authority’s objective in having the electronic system in place was to ensure maximum safety in handling shipments and also to facilitate navigation operations in Saudi ports. “Once the system is operational, work performance will be clear for officials and organizations since they would be able to monitor every detail related to various operations,” he pointed out.
Giving details of some of the activities and achievements of the authority, Al-Drees said: “Several projects costing a total of SR1.44 billion are being implemented, including 30 projects that will increase power capacity in ports, and establishing new administrative buildings. We have already completed the first phase of the Enterprise Content Management which involved application of the administration’s electronic communication system to follow up processes and production.”
On human resources issues, Al-Drees said the authority had so far promoted 356 of its staff. It had also suggested constitution of scholarships for university graduates to study further specializations in fields related with its work, like marine and civil engineering, business administration, logistics and sea transportation.