World first in international maritime security launched

Oct 14, 2004

Ground-breaking IT systems in maritime security were launched at the University of Wollongong’s Centre for Maritime Policy on 13 October.

Debraneys Systems for Maritime Security, in partnership with the Centre for Maritime Policy, showcased an entirely new generation of information management tools representing a world first.

The shipping industry is a multi billion dollar industry affecting every nation. On 1 July this year, the International Ship and Port Security (ISPS) code was introduced through the International Maritime Organisation to monitor far more closely the transit of vessels, people and cargo through any port in the world.

Debraneys Systems promise reality-based information management systems, easy for people to use and able to deal with the myriad problems that can arise daily in this international environment. Debraneys provides modules to manage and track the new processes needed for maintaining ISPS compliance.

Debraneys is a member of the Australian Technology Showcase and has won awards in Australia and Singapore for a range of ground-breaking projects and has recently become a finalist in the national “Secrets of Australian IT Innovation” competition.

The Centre for Maritime Policy is Australia’s leading academic centre for research on issues of international policy and maritime security. Funding for the project has been provided through the Australian Technology Showcase Demonstration program, an initiative of the NSW Department of State and Regional Development.

The demonstration site launch at UOW included a series of internet broadcasts showing the three specific implementations of the system – (1) ship owners/operators; (2) port authorities/port facility operators and; (3) maritime security operations centre (government and corporate).

Members of the Federal Department of Transport involved in maritime security, senior executives from NSW ports, representatives from the Department of State and Regional Development, AusIndustry and Austrade as well as UOW representatives attended the launch.