Located at the entrance to the busiest port in Africa, the Durban Point Waterfront is one of South Africa's most significant and exciting property development and investment projects.
Destined to become one of Durban's most prestigious addresses, and a key tourist attraction, it is rapidly transforming what was a previously run-down precinct, into a multi-billion Rand property showcase for all South Africans to be justifiably proud of.
Ushaka Marine World
Ushaka Marine World is Africa's largest marine theme park, covering 15 hectares of prime beach front. Incorporating fresh and sea water, natural materials, the re-creation of the wreck of an old 1920 cargo ship, and themed throughout with indigenous African imagery and decor, lush vegetation and maritime images of the old Port of Durban, Ushaka is a complete 'marine world', offering premium entertainment for young and old alike.
Pre-existing situation & GE Security's role
At the time that this development was built, the developers wanted an efficient and flexible, high-level security system, consisting of access control and video surveillance.
This is according to Carlo Klopper, Africa Region Leader for GE Security.
"The access control system had to make sure that restricted areas in the theme park are accessible only to authorised personnel. In addition to this access control system, the management team wanted to be able - as in most leading theme parks worldwide - to monitor events in the park using a top-level video surveillance system," Klopper explains.
GE Security's Solution
Says Klopper: "GE Security took a proactive approach in this project, by working very closely with the management team of Ushaka, on the design of the system. As requested, the access control system, securing over 50 doors, ensures that restricted areas remain restricted for those who have no authority, and are easy to access for those who are authorized."
He adds that, in addition to the access control system, the video surveillance solution provided uses over 100 GE Security cameras, all connected to GE Security's digital recorders.
"In this way, it becomes possible to monitor and automatically document events in the theme park on a constant basis, 24 x 7 x 364," Klopper comments.
"The two systems are installed in such a way that it becomes possible to integrate - and therefore effectively manage - the different systems through one single central interface.
With these state-of-the-art access control and video surveillance technologies installed, Ushaka Marine World can feel confident of ensuring the safety of its visitors in their world-class facility," Klopper concludes.
Ends
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About GE
GE is a diversified global infrastructure, finance and media company that is built to meet essential world needs. From energy, water, transportation and health to access to money and information, GE serves customers in more than 100 countries and employs more than 300,000 people worldwide. GE is Imagination at Work. For more information, visit the company's Web site at http://www.ge.com.
About GE Security
The Security division of the GE Enterprise Solutions business platform spans the globe as a technological leader in the rapidly growing electronic security industry, bringing together specialist companies, in order to provide high quality products for security, life safety and communications businesses, with residential, commercial and enterprise applications.
In Southern Africa, the Security division of GE has 3 key regional in Johannesburg, Cape Town, and Durban, and offices in Nairobi, Kenya and Lagos, Nigeria; as well as distributors in Quatre Bornes, Mauritius, Windhoek, Namibia, from which service and support is offered to the whole of South Africa and Africa.
Justus Waimiri
Kendal Hunt