In the post-9/11 era, no issue is more important to the
future of
logistics than security. Shipping containers pose a devastating risk
both of physical and economic loss should a weapon be smuggled into a
port. The U.S. Department of Homeland Security has thoroughly studied
these issues and in response to its recommendations, the federal
government has enacted new regulations to increase the visibility of
container shipping contents through all phases of the shipping channel.
Security is a major issue facing the transportation industry and the larger international shipping community. There will be increasingly greater restrictions on trade in the name of security. The carriers will bear the onus of ensuring that proper security measures are in place and the importers will bear the onus of having their shipments slowed down and the cost of examination when they do not meet security requirements.
The U.S. Government is looking at options for developing a number of trading standards that will bridge the gap between the international trading community's requirements for security and the trade's requirement for the smooth movement of goods. Trading standards will be a method by which importers and carriers can contribute to the rigorous examination of the supply chain, visibility of the chain, and devices that evidence unauthorized access to the contents of the container. Importers will have an option of participating in a trading standard or having substantial physical inspection of their cargo - all at their expense.
Trade Tech is at the forefront of the industry in searching for methods, processes, and technologies that will demonstrate a cost effective and secure trading standard. In 2002, Trade Tech was awarded a research grant under the U.S. Congress Operation Safe Commerce (OSC) program. The solution Trade Tech advocated, data collection and analysis based on information gleaned from several points in the supply chain, has been implemented through the new Importer Security Filing, also known as 10+2. Read more about OSC below.
The Security section of our website introduces you to the AMS program, the additional 10+2 requirements put into operation by the U.S. Customs and Border Protection in January 2009, and Trade Tech’s full-service solutions for keeping you in compliance with the new regulations. We also offer solutions for Canadian and Mexican shipping requirements (ACI and Mexican AMS) - see the AMS link at left.
Operation Safe Commerce
The federally-funded Operation Safe Commerce (OSC) program, launched in 2002, provided a test bed for new techniques to increase the security of container shipments from the point of destination through the supply chain to the point of origin.
The ports of Los Angeles/Long Beach, New York/New Jersey and Tacoma/Seattle, the nation's top three major load centers, worked with organizations including Trade Tech to identify supply chain vulnerabilities and to develop improved technologies to ensure the security of cargo entering and leaving the United States. This initiative included tasks such as building intricate EDI links with port terminals to confirm container pickup, in-gate, load on board, and vessel sailing. Trade Tech also connected with terminals in the U.S. for confirmation of vessel arrival, container discharge from vessel, and out-gate. These EDI connections combine with links to over ten major carriers for direct EDI uploads of container movement and links with the U.S. rail network for independent tracking of cargo to inland destinations.
Our software and innovative concepts for workflow and exception management formed the backbone of several bids in the OSC program. Trade Tech was part of a team effort and acted as a joint lead on the Tioga proposal with Hutchison Group, which was one of the original 10 bids to be awarded. The Port of Singapore has also approached us to provide them with a software link to a variety of carriers and NVOCCs, along with the deconsolidation facilities in the United States to form a single collaborative environment tied to US CBP.
