Streamlining safety at docks

The Tower of London, adjacent to the site, has the highest level of footfall for any attraction in the UK. Managing the safety and security of the huge number of overflow site visitors is therefore paramount.

The site had previously been using old analogue two-way radios for all site communications. The handsets struggled to fulfil the demands across the complex, with the team commonly reporting coverage issues.

St Katharine Docks moved from their old handsets to a state of the art digital system to improve safety and efficiency through reliable coverage. The team were supplied Hytera PD785 and X1p radios from authorised Hytera partner Chatterbox. The DMR devices chosen are compact and lightweight, offering a highly portable solution for the security team.

Security officers at the dock work 12 hour shifts as standard, actively using their handsets throughout the day. Battery life was therefore a key consideration for the site manager. The Hytera handsets benefit from the latest lithium ion battery technology, giving them an extended talk time per charge.

The Hytera system also offers Priority Interrupt, which enables management users to interrupt all voice communications on a channel to relay crucial information to all radio users simultaneously if required. Security staff have noticed improved coverage, particularly in the sub-ground levels of the site.