In line with the goal of further advancing the level of integration in our customs systems that provide integration of customs processes and port transactions, in addition to the transmission of information and images of land vehicles entering the port area to the customs systems by the port operator before the vehicle enters the area, the “Port Gate Automation System” project has been initiated in order to automatically perform the entry registration process in the KLTS - Internal Customs-Port Entry and Exit Program simultaneously with the entry of the said vehicles by the port operator. As a result of the studies carried out, the system in question was put into practice as a pilot region in Mersin International Port operating under the supervision of Mersin Customs Directorate on 24.02.2025.

Within the scope of the application, there are 3 checkpoints at the entrance to the port area. At the 1st checkpoint, the images taken by cameras regarding the license plate, container number, container size (20, 40), dangerous goods label and seal of the vehicles are converted into data with Optical Character Recognition (OCR) technology. At the 2nd checkpoint, the vehicle license plate is read with the License Plate Recognition System (LPR). If the data is compatible with the data previously sent to the port operator, the barrier is opened and the vehicle is allowed to pass to the 3rd checkpoint at the entrance of the port area. If the data does not match, the vehicle is directed to a different path before reaching the 3rd checkpoint. The 3rd checkpoint is the last checkpoint where customs checks are carried out and the entire process regarding the vehicle"s entry into the port area can be monitored via Closed Circuit Television (CCTV) from the "Customs Guard Entrance Gate Command and Control Office" established at the entrance of the port area. In addition, at this point, the pre-gate data coming to the "KLTS - Internal Customs-Port Entry and Exit Program" is automatically approved by the system without the need for manual processing. In addition, physical checks of the vehicle are also carried out by the personnel on duty in the field when necessary in coordination with the personnel in the Command and Control Office.

In this way, images of vehicles arriving at the port area can be monitored instantly by the officers and vehicles that may be at risk can be detected at an earlier stage in the analyses to be made until the vehicle arrives at the port entrance point, thus speeding up vehicle passage times at the port area entrances and preventing congestion. In addition, the system aims to increase traceability in port entry processes and to make retrospective audits more effective by archiving photographs taken from different angles of all vehicles entering the port.

In this context, the operation of the system is being monitored at Mersin International Port and it is planned to spread the application to other ports within a timetable provided that the port operators complete the necessary technological and infrastructure preparations.