MARITIME SECURITY

Shipowners and seaports find themselves on the frontline in the war on terrorism. And one of the biggest challenges is knowing what's inside the ubiquitous shipping container. Public fears have been heightened by media stories on the possibility of shipping in a "dirty bomb"in a box and by accounts of containers being used virtually as cruise cabins by illegal immigrants and potential terrorists.

"Containers are an indispensable but vulnerable link in the chain of global trade; approximately 90% of the world's cargo moves by container. Each year, nearly 50% of the value of all U.S. imports arrives via 16 million containers," notes the "National Strategy for Homeland Security" published by the Bush Administration last month. Among the core elements of that strategy are to establish security criteria to identify high-risk containers; pre-screen containers before they arrive at U.S. ports; use technology to inspect high-risk containers; and develop and use smart and secure containers.

The United States will place inspectors at foreign seaports to screen U.S.-bound sea containers before they are shipped to America, initially focusing on the top 20 "mega" ports (including Rotterdam, Antwerp, and Le Havre), because roughly 68% of the sea containers entering the United States annually arrive from these ports.

All of this, of course, costs money—and either shipowners or shippers will foot much of the bill. A House-Senate conference considering port security legislation was last month looking at a figure of $15 per regular TEU and $20 per TEU containing hazardous materials as a likely security fee for containers entering U.S. seaports.

There will be an update on the progress of this legislation at Marine Log's Maritime Legislation, Regulation & Policy conference in Washington, D.C. on Sept. 17 & 18, which this year has a strong focus on security related matters.

WHAT TECHNOLOGY IS OUT THERE?
Meantime, for those with an interest in hardware, the U.S. Maritime Security Expo being held at New York's Jacob Javits Convention Center on Sept. 18 & 19 will showcase a broad range of solutions aimed at enhancing the security of ships and ports. Not surprisingly, much of the focus is specifically on containers.

SEALS AND LOCKS

Omni Security Consultants, Inc., specializes in container security seals and locks. Products include the Sealock Container Security System and the Sealock Junior. Sealocks are hybrids: part lock, part seal. They act as both a sturdy barrier device against overt break-ins into cargo containers as well as a tamper-indicative sealing device. Sealocks are affixed to ocean-going cargo containers around the world and have gained widespread acceptance among some of the world's largest and most high-profile exporters and importers.

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