Peel Ports Liverpool is one of the largest, busiest and most diverse ports in the UK, and sits on both sides of the River Mersey. Peel Ports operates both the port and the Manchester Ship Canal and has one of the most impressive shipping networks in the UK. They have also just invested in Liverpool2, a new £400m deep-water container terminal which, once fully operational, will double their container capacity and make them one of the country’s best equipped and connected terminals.
Our Involvement
Carlisle Support Services were awarded the security contract at Peel Ports in February 2017. The operation spanned across 10 locations within Liverpool and Manchester. Carlisle had been provided a contract start date of 6th March, which meant we had a very short timeframe to mobilise and TUPE transfer over 70 staff.
The operation requirements and security services would need to focus on the following key areas:
- ISPS trained security guarding
- Gatehouse duties
- Port control room operatives (PNC trained by Merseyside Police)
- Mobile patrols on foot and in vehicles
- Vehicle searching
- Freight searching
- People searching
- Traffic control and management
- Port police liaison and communication
- Shuttle Bus driver service to port personnel.
Carlisle implemented a mobilisation project team, with a dedicated lead, to carry out the short timescale transition, which included:
• New bespoke designed uniform and branding across all operations – Our uniform supplier Matthias was introduced to the client to design the new brand and implementation ready for 6th March
• Four off-road patrol vehicles – Ordered and fully operational for contract live date
• One 17 seater bus – We also provide a shuttle bus service on behalf of Peel Ports Dockers and staff
• Assignment Instructions and Risk Assessments – Implemented at all sites across the ten locations
• Relief support induction training – Provided to six officers prior to the contract start
• Work-IT – Our in-house patrol monitoring, task and compliance system implemented across each location with active NFC tags to monitor our compliance to internal and external patrols
• Engage-IT – Staff communication platform provided to all transferring staff, allowing them to check and book holidays, pay and shift allocation.
This was a very complex operation and required all Carlisle management to be visible during each stage of the transition plan. There had been additional factors to consider as to the compliance of staff training and clearance due to the regulations required by TRANSEC and the ISPS levels.
Carlisle accepted the challenge to ensure we built a level of trained ISPS security personnel to provide a level of operational contingency that has been missing historically whilst also understanding the importance of maintaining a level of suitably trained and vetted personnel to cover the PNC control room requirement.
The next stage of this project was to develop a forum across the port where we engage all port stakeholders once a month to assist the Port Security Authority. Close liaison with the port police is the driving force behind this and – with our experience of providing security services at P&O and Liverpool Cruise Terminal – we kno
we have the ability and expertise to drive standards up and ensure safe and secure maritime facilities. We are pleased to say in 2018, Carlisle were re-awarded this contract and continue to provide a secure environment for employees, visitors and the public.