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Unisys Canada Signs Contract to Design Innovative Biometric Access Control System for Canada’s Port of HalifaxNew system will employ vascular technology to identify port workers
HALIFAX, Nova Scotia, Canada, August 13, 2007 - Unisys Corporation (NYSE: UIS), a leader in applying biometric and smart card technologies as part of enterprise security solutions, will use innovative vascular technology to identify port workers under a new contract with the Port of Halifax.
Unisys Canada Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Unisys, announced today that the port has awarded the company a contract to develop and manage a biometric credentialing and access control database system (CACDS) for approximately 4,000 of its port workers. Transport Canada and the port will fund the pilot project, scheduled for completion Nov. 30.
The Halifax Port Authority commissioned the credentialing and access control database system in compliance with Transport Canada’s Marine Transportation Security Act and corresponding regulations.
The Port of Halifax is the only one on the east coast deep enough to accommodate fully laden, post-Panamax vessels1. This year, the port is expected to handle 1,800 vessels and generate more than 15,000 direct and indirect jobs and $670 million CDN in employment income.
Vascular Scanning for Reliable, Secure Access Control
Verification is instantaneous and is achieved when the blood flow pattern of the holder’s hand matches the pattern of the scan stored on the card.
"This is in compliance with the Marine Transportation Security Regulation requirement to authenticate a card holder as being the card owner, which then grants access to restricted areas and facilities," said Gord Helm, manager, port security and marine operations, Halifax Port Authority.
"The port and the Canadian government support this particular biometric technology," Mr. Helm added.
Secure Access and Data Storage
The system also controls exits. Workers must use the card and verify their identity when they leave an area into which the card granted them access. In an emergency situation, authorized individuals can override this requirement so as not to impede evacuation processes.
Flexibility and Scalability
"Other Canadian ports have used biometrics for access control but none other than Halifax has deployed a system as scalable as the CACDS. Because of its adaptability, sturdiness and open framework, we see it as the perfect tool to drive security standards for Transport Canada," said Bob Binns, president, Unisys Canada.
The access control solution enabled by CACDS is compliant with Transport Canada’s specifications/requirements. The scanner enclosures are environmentally sturdy, in that the scanner will work in 100 percent humidity and also at minus 50 degrees Centigrade. The system is not port-specific and can be tailored for use anywhere that access controls are necessary.
"The Halifax Port Authority challenged industry to come up with a highly adaptable solution to the Marine Transportation Security Environment. Unisys won the year-long competition with a solution that provides significant flexibility to evolve with the port’s inter-modal community and the frequently changing environment of the supply chain," Helm said.
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¹ Notes:
About Unisys Unisys is a worldwide information technology services and solutions company. We provide consulting, systems integration, outsourcing and infrastructure services, combined with powerful enterprise server technology. We specialize in helping clients use information to create efficient, secure business operations that allow them to achieve their business goals. Our consultants and industry experts work with clients to understand their business challenges and create greater visibility into critical linkages throughout their operations. For more information, visit www.unisys.com.
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