Telindus provides 21st century surveillance system for Harland and Wolff

Odiham, UK – 22 April, 2008 - Telindus, an expert in delivering vendor-independent business and technology-focused network solutions and services, has joined forces with Harland and Wolff Heavy Industries Limited to deploy a 21^st Century surveillance system that complies with port security regulations and enables staff to monitor the organisation’s 90 acres from anywhere on the network, at anytime.

Building on a history of more than 140 years in the shipbuilding industry, Belfast-based Harland and Wolff operates one of the largest dry docks in the world and focuses on Ship and Offshore Unit design, building, repair, conversion and decommissioning.  With customers wanting to ensure that a state-of-the-art CCTV system was in place before bringing their vessels to the dry dock and the need to comply with the latest port security legislations, Harland and Wolff wished to upgrade its legacy surveillance systems across two docks, the ship repair site and the main heavy industries site.  Rather than working in silos, the systems had to interact and images had to be accessible to staff anywhere on the network, at anytime.  In order to support this flexibility, having sufficient bandwidth was essential.  With a 90 acre site, the company was also faced with the challenge of ensuring that the area was adequately monitored for health and safety purposes.

Due to its technical expertise and support levels, Harland and Wolff turned to Telindus to design and implement a new CCTV infrastructure and surveillance system for the site perimeter.  Working with Alvarion, Cisco and DVTel, Telindus connected 39 cameras across the two dry docks and the ship repair site, as well as the main yard and internal and perimeter floodlighting towers, using Ethernet, fibre and wireless connections.

With staff able to access images from anywhere, the new IP system enables surveillance cameras to be utilised for business as well as security purposes.  Project managers and customers can monitor the progress being made on their ships whether they are on or off site. Static cameras have been positioned for clocking in and out purposes and the dock gates can be monitored for leaks.  Equipped with PDAs and laptops, Harland and Wolff’s sales and marketing team can also show potential clients worldwide the facilities available in real-time by logging onto the network rather than simply handing them a brochure.

Robert McIlwaine, Group IT Executive, Harland and Wolff, said: “With a site as large as ours and the fact that the ground level is made up of around 10-12 feet of reinforced concrete, upgrading our surveillance system presented a real challenge.  However, Telindus rose to this challenge, using wireless connectivity to link our existing and new cameras in areas that were difficult to access. The technology deployed has given us a competitive edge. It proves to customers that we take health, safety and security very seriously, and we are willing to use innovative technology to ensure that our business is more effective.   We also have complete flexibility. If increased security is required, additional cameras can be quickly installed on the network as and when they are needed.  A business of our size has to ensure that its IT is future-proof and that it is making the best use of the network it has, so with this in mind, we’re looking at having voice, CCTV and data all running over one network.”

Darragh Richardson, Country Manager, Telindus Ireland, said: “Harland and Wolff’s new IP surveillance system is a perfect example of how technology can be used to make a business more effective.  The company’s old CCTV infrastructure was no longer up to the task and now it has a system that is both flexible and future-proof.    With video feeds now accessible to the Health and Safety, Sales and Marketing, and HR departments, the new technology will help Harland and Wolff provide the best possible service to both its staff and clients. The deployment can also be expanded as and when increased security measures or new business applications are required.”

Looking ahead, Harland and Wolff wishes to extend the surveillance system to include its manufacturing shops.  The company is also examining RFID tagging on lifting rigs to increase site safety and better track assets throughout the entire estate.

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About Telindus
Telindus is a group of companies offering ICT Solutions and Services. Telindus serves business and public market needs as a solution and sourcing partner, delivering secured converged networking, and secured systems & applications underpinned by management and support services.

With over 37 years experience in ICT, Telindus is investing considerably in expertise to service modern IT and telecommunications infrastructures throughout their life cycle. Telindus' enviable track record and longstanding partnerships with leading equipment suppliers offers a safe route for enterprises, telecom operators and government bodies looking to deploy long-lasting ICT solutions.

In January 2006, Telindus joined the Belgacom Group to become the IT Services Branch of a new business leader in the market. Belgacom SA/NV [Euronext Brussels:BELG] is the leading telecommunications company in Belgium and a market leader in a number of areas, including retail and wholesale fixed-line telephony services, mobile communications services, broadband data and Internet services. Together, Belgacom and Telindus are building a Belgian champion in the European IT landscape, presenting the market a unique offering, uniting Connectivity and IT Services. http://www.belgacom.be/

With a highly skilled international team of 2,753 employees, Telindus is present in 15 countries in Western Europe, Hungary, China and Thailand.   Telindus is headquartered in Belgium. http://www.telindus.com/

About Harland and Wolff
Harland and Wolff Heavy Industries design, build, and support heavy engineering projects for the marine industry. In particular it focuses on Ship repair, building offshore platforms, renewable energy (wind and wave power), and recovery and recycling of marine and offshore units. Whilst best known for ship construction over the past 140 years with the iconic Titanic as its most famous creation, Harland and Wolff has significantly diversified in recent years. Its structural engineering expertise and impressive dry dock facilities are ideal for large metal construction projects and in recent years Harland and Wolff has built bridges, oil platforms, and wind farms as well as its traditional role in ship building and repair. Harland and Wolff is one of a limited number of organisations with licence to dispose and recycle ships in accordance with environmental controls. For further information please visit http://www.harland-wolff.com/