Ports of Antwerp and Zeebrugge Upgrading Biometrics to Lumidigm's Fingerprint Readers
Needed More Secure and Intuitive Solution than Previous Biometric Could Deliver
ALBUQUERQUE, NM – Lumidigm today announced that Alfapass, the provider of the security smart card system at the Ports of Antwerp and Zeebrugge in Belgium, is replacing the older biometric system at the ports' registration stations with Lumidigm V-Series multispectral imaging fingerprint readers. The Port of Antwerp is Europe's second largest port, while Zeebrugge is the central port for Europe's automotive industry and has the largest liquefied natural gas terminal complex in Europe. Alfapass is now in the process of enrolling 17,000 truck drivers and 10,000 longshoremen at the two ports on the new system.
A major access control function at the port facilities is the unique identification of individuals in a more efficient manner, especially for those who travel between multiple port facilities. The solution is a single ID card that covers all facilities rather than a different entrance card for each company at the port. Therefore, visitors to both Belgian ports carry a smart card from Alfapass which includes the visitor's biometric template. When reading the card, each individual facility has the option of also verifying the fingerprint stored on the card. By checking and verifying the fingerprint, facility personnel can assure that the card is being presented by its rightful owner.
"We have been using biometrics since 2005 but we needed a better solution to provide increased security that is easier for port visitors to use," explains Piet Hadermann, Alfapass operations manager. "Our former technology could not differentiate one person from another at the level of certainty and security we require. The false acceptance rate was much too high. Plus, some people, especially infrequent visitors, would forget how to use it from visit to visit. With the Lumidigm units, visitors intuitively put their fingers on the illuminated blue light, even when using self-service units."
All port visitors are now being enrolled – from longshoremen to ship's chaplains – with the Lumidigm fingerprint readers. The biometric readers are placed and used at port registration offices and administrative kiosks located at the "gate in" for truck drivers and elsewhere an Alfapass card can be used. Alfapass enrolls user cards with two fingerprints, assuring that if there is a problem with the primary finger, the user can simply sign in with the alternate finger. The kiosk or access control device can also ask for the second finger.
Using the Alfapass system, when a card is lost or stolen, or the person no longer works for the company, the card is automatically blocked at all participating facilities. No longer can the ex-employee or person who stole or found the card get into the ports. Only card holders that also pass the biometric check-in are able to enter. Fraud is virtually impossible.
About Alfapass
Alfapass is a Belgian company, created in 2004 as a result of ISPS regulations. Alfapass is responsible for the issue and management of a central identification card, granting access to the Ports of Antwerp and Zeebrugge.
Today, the Alfapass Card Management System, a custom-built and highly automated solution, serves a total of more than 5,000 clients. Alfapass Cards are based on RFID technology. Each card is tailored to personal requirements using a specific card type, enabling the card holder to be identified immediately by their qualification and the nature of their profession (e.g., truck driver, dockworker, ship repairman, port installations personnel, visitor, etc.) The system also uses biometric enrollment allowing each card holder to be uniquely identified in all subsequent security and/or logistical processes at the port terminals.
About Lumidigm
Lumidigm Inc., a global leader in authentication solutions is dedicated to enabling convenient, secure, and reliable identification of people, products and credentials. Developed with "real world" performance as a priority, Lumidigm's multispectral imaging technology, innovative software and biometric fingerprint sensors allow customers to know "who" or "what" to a high degree of certainty. Lumidigm and its strategic partners have met challenging authentication requirements in markets such as banking, healthcare, entertainment, and government services. The Lumidigm Advantage is also suitable for industrial, commercial, and transportation applications. Lumidigm is headquartered in Albuquerque, New Mexico. For more information, visit www.lumidigm.com.
Contacts:
Phil Scarfo, Lumidigm, +1 (505) 730-4949, pscarfo@lumidigm.comÂ
