The Port of Dover has installed an advanced monitoring system to track ferry berthing events and assess the real-world performance of berth fender systems. The project combines sensors and integrated Meteor MRC cameras to provide detailed information on vessel arrivals and the forces exerted on berthing infrastructure.
The system is designed to help port engineers identify significant berthing events, improve maintenance planning and protect critical port assets.
Sensors measure the displacement of fenders as ferries berth, while cameras provide visual confirmation of each vessel movement. The combined data allows engineers to link fender performance directly to individual berthing events.
“The Meteor camera provides us with ‘eyes on-site’,” said Nick Slater of I&M Solutions, which delivered the monitoring contract with Geo-Sub Ltd. “As soon as a sensor registers an approaching vessel, the data logging system is activated, which in turn triggers the camera, allowing methodical collection of berthing data,” he said.
“This improves the response time for the port’s engineers, saves time and money, and provides valuable operational context to support informed maintenance, asset integrity and future fender management decisions.”
Berth View — A ferry berths at the Port of Dover, where sensors and cameras monitor fender performance and vessel movements to improve maintenance planning, safety and operational reliability
The Port of Dover is the UK’s busiest international ferry port, handling more than 11 million passengers annually and around one-third of UK trade in goods with the EU. Its six ferry berths use specialised fender systems to absorb berthing forces, helping protect both vessels and quay infrastructure.
Traditionally, maintenance schedules have relied heavily on manufacturers’ specifications and time-based servicing intervals. The new monitoring system allows operational teams to use measured performance data to support condition-based maintenance and plan repairs more effectively. According to the port, this approach can extend fender life, reduce costs and minimise the risk of unplanned berth closures.
The installation includes a long-range radar sensor to detect approaching ferries and five monitoring points positioned on selected fenders. Data is recorded at high frequency during berthing operations. A Meteor MCE mini pillar camera with infrared illumination captures images throughout the process.
“It has performed flawlessly for the past year, delivering high-quality images in all weathers to corroborate sensor data and enable us to view site conditions without requiring engineers to attend the berth unnecessarily,” Slater said.
Looking ahead, Senior Engineer Gennaro Acquaviva said the system is already providing valuable insight into the performance of berth infrastructure. “The key benefit for us is the ability to make more informed engineering decisions,” he said. “This data supports condition-based maintenance, improves our understanding of fender integrity, and helps us plan replacements or design improvements based on evidence rather than assumption.”
He said the system also supports sustainability goals by reducing unnecessary asset replacements and lowering the carbon impact of premature infrastructure renewal.
