Technologies and practical engineering applications in connection with cruise ports and terminals
Airport terminals and cruise ports have a surprising amount in common, especially when it comes to technology. From passenger movement to navigation, technology is a fundamental part of how both of these modes of transport support people in their travels. Learn more about the different pieces of technology and applications of practical engineering at cruise ports and discover how these aren’t that different to the airports millions of people use every single day.
What are cruise ports?
Cruise ports are to oceans what airports are to the skies. They are where people board cruise liners at the start of their holidays and also where they dock to take excursions ashore during the duration of their trips. With thousands of people flooding through these ports each day, efficiency, organisation and safety are essential. As such, they are hubs of technology, supporting staff at the port and on ships with navigation, surveillance and communication.
What technology is available at cruise ports?
Compliance & Legal Recorder Systems
The communication that a cruise ship engages in is recorded by both the ship and the authorities. This is a necessity for a few reasons, first providing emergency services with all the information they need in case of an emergency. If a ship has an incident, compliance and legal recording systems narrow down the series of decisions that the ship’s captain makes, establishing better protocols for the next time an issue like that emerges. Learning from history is a necessity, especially when passenger safety is on the line.
Visual Guidance Docking System (VDGS)
A Visual Guidance Docking System is a system that provides clear visual indicators for ship captains lining their ships up to the dock. This series of lights and posts ensures that the ship navigates its way in a safe manner, and is very similar to the VDGS systems that airports – like Hamad International Airport in Qatar – use. These systems are highly effective, with their visibility showing up even in the worst conditions, allowing passengers to disembark.
Passenger Tracking System
Talking to and moving ships is only one part of the way that a port works. The movement of passengers plays another key role in this. Passenger tracking systems are used to monitor things like passenger flow, waiting times, queue lengths, retail analytics and passenger behaviour, allowing port managers to respond in real-time to any problems (like the slow boarding of passengers onto the ship) and mitigate the same issues going forward. This helps to keep the flow of people moving and increases efficiency throughout the port.
Bayanat Engineering Qatar
If you have an interest in learning more about technology and practical engineering in both docks and airports, contact Bayanat Engineering today. We offer a range of airport and dock solutions for transport hubs around the world and can support a port right through from consultation to installation.