Port security

Innovative, Multi-Layered Advances to Secure the World’s Maritime Cargo

Of the 250 million containers shipped annually, RAND Corporation estimates that fewer than two percent are checked to verify that the contents match the manifest. This is a shocking and worrisome revelation and places a huge burden on security, given that terrorists can exploit the porosity of the process to smuggle in goods such as weapons or narcotics, or even place explosives in the containers to detonate at points of carriage or destination.

With cargo figures up around the world, it is high time that these gaping holes in security are addressed to bring maritime cargo in line with the stringent processes that are now being seen in aviation cargo. Several new initiatives look to do just that.

Eyes to the sky

Already in service in air cargo security operations, canine/handler teams will soon be available as another layer in cargo screening at maritime ports, which until now have seen a combination of physical search and scanning equipment, depending on the port.