Page 28 - Sphere No.9 (Sep 2003)

P O R T S
Boxing Clever
J ust as a secure house helps people sleep peacefully at night,
the introduction of Smart and Secure Tradelanes (SST) is
allowing the shipping industry to rest easy in the knowl-
edge that containers carrying their valuable merchandise
will arrive safely every time.
Until now, shippers had no real control over their goods
after they’d been packed into containers. Any tampering with
the contents in transit, or even the loss of the entire container,
was almost impossible to detect until it was too late.
But all this is rapidly changing with the introduction of
SST. The system effectively provides each container with the
equivalent of its own electronic dead bolt and burglar alarm,
along with supporting technology that enables owners to track
the container and monitor the integrity of their goods from
point of origin to final destination.
The initiative comes at a time of growing concerns world-
wide over security issues. In the wake of the events of 9/11, the
movement of containers has been identified in some quarters
as a vulnerable link in the global security chain. In the worst-
case scenario, some argue, a container could be used to deliver
a bomb.
At the forefront of technology solutions for container
security, and one backed by Hutchison Port Holdings (HPH),
are anti-intrusion sensor systems that are both tamper proof
and monitored by a radio-wave network. The sensor systems
transmit coded radio alerts in the event of unauthorised tam-
pering and also carry an encrypted computerised log of the
container’s handling history.
This SST initiative is a global effort to use proven technolo-
gies and best business practices to plug security gaps throughout
the supply chain. Similar technology is widely used in anti-
shoplifting devices. With an average container cargo worth
US$50,000 to US$100,000, it is not surprising that the technol-
ogy is now being applied to protect commercial cargo in transit.
“HPH is joining with other industry leaders to build a net-
work to read messages from individual containers as to their
location and sensor activity,” explains HPH Group Managing
Director John Meredith.
“When the messages are received from their origin load-
ing and destination unloading facilities, shippers will be able to
closely monitor the containers in their supply chain.”
Meredith is a founding member of the Strategic Council
on Security Technology (SCST), which is the driving force
behind the SST initiative. The SCST was brought into exis-
tence in response to the events of 9/11 to focus on security
with the aim of being an international resource. It is com-
prised of an international assembly of top executives from the
world’s largest port operators, logistics technology providers,
military logistics leaders, former public officials and prominent
transportation consultancies.The participation of leading glob-
al ports players means that SCST represents 75% to 80% of the
container traffic crossing US borders.
TECHNOLOGICAL B LUEPRINT
With growing demand for the establishment of more
dependable security, the commercial container industry has
known for some time that it faces a dramatic change in the
way of doing business.
The basic requirement is that each container carry with it
reliable information on where it has been and who has had
access to it. In short, each container must be secure and tracked.
By volume, more than 95% of the US non-North
American foreign trade arrives by ship. Yet the US Customs
Service is only able to inspect 2% to 3% of the seven million
containers that arrive each year, carrying everything from rugs
and razorblades to frozen fish and sports cars. A major securi-
ty breach conceivably could cripple global trade.
As the collection and discharge point for sea containers,
ports are the strategic control points in the supply chain. But
SPHERE
1226
Hutchison is a key player in a global initiative that will significantly increase safety and security
within the world’s maritime container trade.
By Matthew Flynn