Maritime and Ports

Tracking elusive shipping containers
As you read this, there are some 40,000 large cargo ships plying the world’s waterways and oceans, not to mention innumerable smaller merchant craft, all pulling in and out of ports, loading, unloading, changing out crews and cargos, and steaming from one location to the next; who tracks the millions of containers they carry every year?
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Danish company pays ransom to release pirated ship, crew
In the lawless land — and terrotorial water — of Somalia, piracy is a thriving business; Danish company pays $1.5 million ransom to have cargo ship, crew release after two-months ordeal
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Chertoff rejects 100 percent inspection of U.S.-bound cargo
The 9/11 Commission, and many Democrats in Congress, want 100 percent inspection of U.S.-bound cargo containers; Chertoff says this is impractical, and that other cargo safety programs are doing fine
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New container inspection rules to have little impact on DP World
World’s fourth largest container port operator says new U.S. container inspection mandates would have but little impact on its trade
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Savi names first participants in RFID E-Seal licensing program
There are 200 million cargo containers traveling the world each year — and the number is growing; Savi, a Lockheed Martin company, has developed a protection system for these containers, and six companies have licensed the technology
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EU says U.S. cargo scanning would disrupt trade, violate treaties
Congress wants DHS to implement 100 percent inspection of U.S.-bound freight containers; EU says this will do not much to security, but would disrupt trade and violate international treaties
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Sandia tests new approach to radiation detection
Sandia physicists have an idea: Scan freight containers for radiation not at the port, but at sea: “You’ve got days on the ocean, and you only get minutes in the port,” says one of them
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Impressive growth of people working in security sector
The 9/11 attacks have engendered broad, steady growth of people working in the security sector, with more hiring planned
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Texas Southern University to build transportation security center
Bringing home the bacon: Two influential members of Congress from Houston secure funding for transportation security center at TSU
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House bill delays 100 percent freight-container inspection
In January the House said it wanted 100 percent of U.S.-bound containers inspected for radioactive materials; language in transportation will allow delays in implementing this requirement
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DHS unveils plan for protecting trade after terrorist attack on ports
In visit to L.A., Chertoff outlines a strategy for rapid resumption of commerce in the event of an attack on a U.S. port
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USDA evaluates zNose for detecting contraband food products
The current inspection systems for contraband food products has come under criticism; USDA augments inspection by testing zNose
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India to join U.S. Container Security Initiative
India will join CSI, and will also be allowed to have Indian officials in U.S. ports to examine India-bound cargo
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India delays decision on container security pact with U.S.
Indian cabinet was yesterday supposued to ratify India’s participation in CSI; cabinet delays decision pending U.S. clarification on tying CSI to non-priliferation pact
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TWIC was supposed to be rolled out today
The implemntation of TWIC continues to be delayed owing to technical glitches, but important business-related questions remain unanswered
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