Hong Kong Air Cargo Terminals Limited (Hactl) has rolled out Phase 2 of its intelligent cargo thermal detection system at SuperTerminal 1, strengthening safety measures at the city’s busiest independent cargo hub.

Building on the initial phase launched in December 2023 – which introduced thermal scanning of cargo immediately before aircraft loading – this latest upgrade now extends thermal monitoring to bulk cargo during acceptance.

Hactl says the enhancement provides an added layer of protection for its facilities, customers, staff, and air cargo.

The system, which is said to be a world-first application in the cargo handling sector, integrates advanced thermal imaging, thermodynamics, fluid mechanics, AI and data analytics to overcome the limitations of conventional heat detection methods. It provides real-time temperature monitoring and flags anomalies such as elevated heat signatures that may indicate fire hazards, including those associated with lithium battery shipments.

By enabling earlier detection of high-risk cargo, Hactl says the system helps mitigate potential threats and financial losses for stakeholders across the airfreight supply chain.

The company’s next step will involve applying the technology to export prepacked cargo during acceptance, further broadening its thermal surveillance network.

Kenneth Chan, Hactl’s executive director for engineering and facilities services, said: “Once again Hactl is showing the way to the future through the implementation of this next phase of its intelligent cargo thermal detection system. We will continue to take all necessary steps to ensure we remain at the cutting edge of safety and security in the air cargo handling business.”

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