Feature

Problems and risks

The world's heavy reliance on shipping containers, coupled with their vulnerability, means that a terrorist attack using containers is not only possible but would also have high economic costs. The obvious problem is that it is hard to know what is inside the millions of sealed containers. They could be used to transport weapons or other destructive material. They could also be used as weapons on their own.

But though containers shipped by land, air and sea share similar weaknesses, there are no consistent security standards. Currently, only a small minority of containers are thoroughly inspected. So there is a pressing need to establish common methods of transmitting, checking and sharing documents, to create a system for exchanging customs data and to introduce standardized, electronic seals for containers.

What needs to be done?

"Stricter and more frequent controls coupled with new international standards would hinder communication and co-operation among terrorist groups worldwide as well as prevent the illicit transfer of weapons and military equipment to them," said Bostjan Jerman, Counter-Terrorism Co-ordinator of the Slovenian Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Slovenia holds the OSCE Chairmanship in 2005.

To increase confidence in container security, the following issues need to be addressed:

• lack of accountability for security
• little transparency in the shipping process
• ineffective cargo validation
• producer and end-user verification
• lack of standardized shipping documents and procedures

The OSCE's role

Container security is an issue that reaches well beyond borders and, to be effective, needs to address all means of transport on a global scale. Containers can be shipped via sea, land and air during the same voyage before reaching their final destination, at which point inspection could be too late. The risk of tampering begins at the point of origin. Though many OSCE participating States are landlocked and have no ports, they still have an interest in ensuring container security at every step of the process.

Within the OSCE, the need to improve the security of shipping containers was raised at its Annual Security Review Conference in June 2004 and was followed up at the Sofia Ministerial Council in December. The Ministers' meeting stressed the need to raise awareness, to exchange information on best practices and to co-operate with relevant international organizations.

The experts' workshop

As a result of the Sofia meeting, in February 2005 the OSCE organized a workshop and simulation exercise to demonstrate the need for global co-operation and attention to the issue. Held in Vienna, it brought together 170 participants from across the OSCE region and some of its partners.

The simulation exercise illustrated the role of different actors in the container transport chain and how they might react to unfolding events in a threat scenario. Participants included representatives of the ports, national security authorities and industry.

Laying the groundwork

The workshop's presentations and dialogue provided a solid basis for further steps. OSCE involvement was welcomed by many key players in this area. It may provide support in implementing international standards and provide a platform for sharing information, lessons learned and best practices.

"Container security will be an important issue for years to come," said Bostjan Jerman, underlining the OSCE's continued involvement.

Experts from customs, transport and port authorities, as well as industry representatives, contributed to the workshop. Twelve international organizations were also represented, including the International Maritime Organization, World Customs Organization, United Nations Economic Commission for Europe, International Labour Organization, Interpol, Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development, NATO and the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime.

"The OSCE should continue to host such forums," said Kyung Rae Min of the International Maritime Organization, "taking advantage of its broad membership and the political leverage it has."