Passengers travelling through the Port of Poole will now benefit from enhanced security from the threat of COVID-19, with the installation of a new temperature screening system.

Temperature monitoring expert, AMETEK Land, has partnered with Poole Harbour Commissioners who operate the port, and installed the VIRALERT 3 non-contact human body temperature screening system as part of providing increased protection against the spread of the virus.

“This system has provided us with an added level of security screening and we hope it will provide passengers and staff with that extra confidence in travel. It is easy to set up and use, and provides almost instant results so there isn’t any extra queuing or additional delays in the departure lounge,” said the port’s safety and security manager, Dave Laut.

An elevated temperature is one of three main symptoms of the virus. By screening temperatures of every single passenger, visitor and employee passing through the terminal, the port authorities are reducing the risk of allowing someone who is infected onto a passenger ferry or cargo ship.

VIRALERT 3 is said to be the first of its kind, providing a camera, thermal imager, and a temperature-controlled reference source on a single platform.
Using automatic face detection, the system ensures a valid reading, and provides a measurement that’s accurate to within 0.5oC/ 0.9oF. It then calculates core body temperatures through a rapid test procedure that lasts less than two seconds.

The system will operate alongside existing strict procedures already in place at the port including providing hand washing facilities, the use of facial coverings and social distancing measures. In addition sanitiser stations and greater seating space has been added. Passengers and employees will be screened as they move through the departure lounge and into the restricted area before boarding.

Developed over 18 years by AMETEK Land experts, the VIRALERT 3 provides real-time infrared thermal imaging from a safe social distance. It is designed to screen visitors for elevated skin temperature at an entry point without slowing the flow of people or the need for person-to-person contact. Audible and visual alarms alert when high temperatures are discovered.

Chris Leonard, global lead – VIRALERT, said, “The VIRALERT 3 system is perfect for this kind of installation where there is a high level of traffic with people transiting through the port. It provides an effective solution for scanning people entering the departure lounge, reducing the risk of anyone carrying an infection onto the ships and into other countries, while protecting fellow passengers at the same time.”

AMETEK Land has been developing high-accuracy infrared measurement instruments since 1947 and has been creating human body temperature screening systems since responding to the SARS outbreak of 2002.