As a response to the growing threat of terrorism, several international mandatory and voluntary programs have been implemented and launched to improve the security of Ports, Vessels and Cargo. Security measures and technologies are - besides the cost effective protection of people and assets - expected to avoid negative impacts on the related processes or even to enhance process efficiency in order to create a return on investment (ROI) of security expenditure.
Global commerce is totally dependent on the movement of shipping containers, which carry about 95 percent of the world’s international cargo in terms of value. Due to growing global trade volume, shipping resources are scarce in terms of terminal and transport capacities.
The International Ship and Port Facility Security Code (ISPS), which came into force on July 1, 2004 is still allowing the relevant actors to implement and certify required security measures more or less individually, as those measures have only limited static impact on processes between ports and factors in the supply chain.
More advanced measures like the US-driven Container Security Initiative (CSI) and the Custom Trade Partnership Against Terrorism (C-TPAT) as well as the Authorized Economic Operator (AEO) concept of Customs Organizations will require drastic changes in the maritime-based supply chain process.