SMART AND SECURE TRADELANES PROGRAM PARTNERS PLAN PHASE 2

SMART AND SECURE TRADELANES PROGRAM PARTNERS PLAN PHASE 2    The Smart and Secure Tradelanes program, a private/public cargo shipping security initiative launched last summer, will move to its phase 2 of implementation in early 2003.
   The program, backed by the global port groups Hutchison, PSA Corp. and P&O Ports, aims to monitor the movement and integrity of cargo containers, using radio frequency identification.
   During the past month, the Smart and Secure Tradelanes participants have shipped the first 100 ocean containers from multinational companies between Asia and both the U.S. Pacific and U.S. Atlantic coasts. The containers were monitored via web-based software and radio frequency identification electronic container seals. The seals automatically send alerts if the container is being tampered with, or when other events occur.
   Partners in the program have begun shipments from point of origin through transshipment hubs via the ports of Singapore and Hong Kong and into the U.S. ports of Seattle/Tacoma, Los Angeles/Long Beach, Savannah and New York/New Jersey.
   The Smart and Secure Tradelanes program also is currently being extended to the ports of Rotterdam, Antwerp and Felixstowe.
   The security program will become operational during phase 2 in early 2003.
   “In just a few months, Smart and Secure Tradelanes has gone from a concept to a concrete reality using sophisticated wireless and Internet technologies in one of the world’s most complex environments — the global supply chain,” said Gen. John Coburn, U.S. Army (Ret.) general and chairman of the Strategic Council on Security Technology. The council is a forum of port operators, logistics technology providers, four-star generals, former public officials and transportation consultants.
   In a related development, the technology firms Sun Microsystems, EXE, Manugistics and Intermec have joined the Smart and Secure Tradelanes program. The program now has about 35 partners.