Cozumel, Q.R. — The Quintana Roo Port Authority (Apiqroo) says they will reinforce security and surveillance at the ferry terminals with high-tech cameras. The state agency will start the bidding process before year’s end to launch the program.
The General Director of Administración Portuaria Integral de Quintana Roo (Apiqroo), Vagner Elbiorn Vega, says the surveillance system will allow for better monitoring at the ferry terminals.
According to Vega, Cozumel will be the state’s first ferry terminal to be outfitted with the cameras. He says Apiqroo is preparing the corresponding bidding processes to launch the program as soon as possible, which will provide video surveillance equipment that will be linked to C5.
“The entire study of the topic of the latest generation cameras that even have facial detection has already been done. The tender is being prepared and this year all of these cameras must be installed.
“Right now, in a first stage, it will be in Cozumel which is where the governor asked us to start. Later, we will go to the other municipalities where we also manage maritime terminals.
“It is important to remember that we do not have influence on all the docks and the investment amounts have not yet been set until the tender is done. Once it is done, we will announce how much will be allocated,” he said.
Vega says the more than 200 high-resolution video surveillance cameras that were supposedly installed in 2019 by then-governor Carlos Joaquin, need to be replaced. He said those cameras were installed in the terminals of Isla Mujeres, Puerto Juárez, Punta Sam, Puerto Morelos and Cozumel during his administration.
Also installed were the metal detector arches and X-ray security equipment for baggage screening.
Vega says it is essential to be able to offer better security conditions to those who use maritime transport, especially because Quintana Roo is one of the most visited destinations.
“We have almost 9 percent more passengers than last year who have moved between the ferry terminals and who have arrived on board cruise ships. This has been a very good year which is why we have the responsibility to offer better security. This year we are improving, a very good year is coming,” he said adding that “the indicators confirm this.”
He added that as a result of this, they are also working on maintenance and improvement work at port facilities, as well as having new infrastructure.
