PSA Breakbulk Sets New Standard in Port Security by Implementing Biometric Facial Control

21 November 2023 - PSA Breakbulk in the Port of Antwerp-Bruges, announced today that it has become the first shipping terminal in Belgium to control visitors’ access to its facilities through biometric facial recognition. PSA Breakbulk installed this new technology, provided by the Ghent based startup NineID to significantly increase security at its facilities and thereby abide by the new stricter ISPS security regulations that recently came into force.

NineID, the supplier of advanced Biometric Access Control, demonstrates that safety is of utmost importance. They received recognition for its Biometric Access Control Solution from the Minister of Justice and the North Sea. With this, NineID is among the first companies in Belgium to comply with the innovative maritime security law that has been in effect since January 1.

PSA Breakbulk, one of the largest steel and general cargo handlers in the Port of Antwerp-Bruges, is the first terminal in Belgium to use NineID's innovative, biometric access control that relies on facial authentication. This new technology provides increased control over who enters its facilities, and more specifically, its Project Cargo Ecosystem  on the south side of the Churchill dock. 

"With the introduction of biometric facial authentication, we are increasing surveillance and access control at our terminal," explains Dennis Verbeeck, general manager of PSA Belgium’s Non-Container Division. "With this new technology, we now exceed the increasingly stringent ISPS regulations. NineID's facial verification biometric access control system offers an unprecedented level of precision and security, which is vital for the protection of our maritime operations."

"We highly value Safety & Security within our PSA Group," explains Yves Stevens, Regional Director HSS EuroMed & Americas. "We therefore regularly invest in new state-of-the-art technologies. We will continue to evaluate the hands-on experience that we are now gaining at PSA Breakbulk to see if we can implement it in our other business units within EuroMed and the Americas."

Faster, more secure access using NineID

The new technology works as follows: if an external party is invited by PSA Breakbulk to access the Project Cargo Ecosystem section of PSA Breakbulk's terminal, they must first pre-register by scanning their ID and taking a selfie. If the two match, their pre-registration is approved and a QR code is automatically generated. Once this person arrives at the terminal, the visitor must scan the QR code and undergo a facial scan. If everything matches, they receive access to the terminal.

NineID is proud of this successful implementation at PSA Breakbulk. NineID combines advanced facial recognition technology with optimised visitor and contractor workflows, resulting in a smooth and secure authentication process. With its user-friendly interface and impressive accuracy, the platform streamlines access control, increasing efficiency while maintaining the highest security standards. In addition to PSA Breakbulk, NineID's clients include TVH, A.S. Watson Group and World Forum The Hague.

NineID receives the very first recognition to provide biometric access control in Belgian ports from the Minister of Justice and the North Sea, Paul Van Tigchelt. The recognition is a clear proof of the reliability of NineID's biometric access control system. Since biometric data is very sensitive information, only recognized organizations that have been thoroughly checked by DG Scheepvaart and the Center for Cybersecurity are allowed to process biometric data.

Roy Jeunen, co-founder of NineID, added: "Our collaboration with PSA Breakbulk is a clear proof of the effectiveness and reliability of our biometric access control system with facial authentication."

The recognition of NineID's biometric access control based on facial authentication, advised by the National Authority for Maritime Security, underlines the company's commitment to excellence and innovation in maritime security. At a time when maritime facilities face constantly evolving threats, NineID continues to lead the way with reliable solutions that protect critical infrastructures and secure the global supply chain.