How safe is your freight? 18


If transport security isn’t top of your agenda, perhaps it should be. The organisers of Transport Security Expo which takes place in London on 2-3 December, explain why it has become such a vital topic.


In August, two massive explosions devastated the northern Chinese port of Tianjin, killing and injuring hundreds of people, affecting major production lines nearby and interrupting the movement of significant volumes of cargo. They happened at a warehouse near the main port, which contained hazardous and flammable chemicals. While officials have not confirmed the cause at the time of writing, it is clear that the repercussions will be widespread and lengthy. Ports and airports with large-


scale movements of high-value cargo will always be more susceptible


to disasters and


security breaches. This is due to the sheer number of people needing access to sensitive areas, the value of the cargo itself and the complex logistics involved. Keeping freight and transport systems safe and secure is an enormous challenge, requiring major financial investment. Just as global exports become more sophisticated, so must the security solutions around them follow suit. International co- operation and communication is crucial to ensure that freight cargo is safely transferred to its destination. A key voice in the campaign


to make freight transport safer is Admiral Lord West, former First Sea Lord, UK Security Minister and Chief of Defence Intelligence. He now sits on the Advisory Board of Transport Security Expo, a major global platform and two-day annual exhibition that brings together government, industry and academia to counter threats against transportation networks. He is a firm believer in international co-operation when it comes to planning freight and transport safety, not to mention the importance of remaining aware and alert to the latest developments in security. He says: “One of the things I


have been calling for is a more holistic, joined-up approach. When you take a composite view, you can make transport systems much safer for the travelling public and make the actual assets themselves more secure. There’s


no doubt that terrorists like to focus their attacks on transport hubs


Anyone involved in the transport industry needs to be fully up to date where security is concerned.” Top experts in rail, maritime,


aviation and land transport security will share ideas, showcase technology and work in co-operation to make the movement of passengers and cargo safe at the show. It is an important opportunity to advance cross-sector co-operation and integrated partnership working.


Maritime


A key element of Transport Security Expo is maritime security which remains a priority concern. Key problems include piracy. While no merchant ships have been taken and held in Somalia since 2012, the industry remains on high alert. Criminal boarding, or ‘armed robbery against ships’ is the most common risk facing mariners in Southern and South East Asia, for example, that must be mitigated against by security experts to ensure the safety of cargo in that area. Another area of maritime


concern that has been receiving a lot of media interest of late is increasing illegal immigration towards Europe. Many people are coming from places like Syria, Iraq and Afghanistan to escape war, while others are seeking


and transport systems.


to extricate themselves from poverty in Africa. Large numbers of people attempting to make these dangerous journeys by sea are having an inevitable effect on the movement of freight cargo, as well as placing unprecedented pressures on border control. Admiral Lord West is certain


that advances in technology are already resulting in tighter maritime security protocols and procedures. “Within the ports, we now have methods of looking into containers without having to open them up, as well as equipment for detecting radioactive material. We also have the kits for detecting drugs on board boats, which means we don’t need to take the whole vessel apart.”


Rail


Britain has 32,000km of track, 2,500 stations and 4,000 trains that carry more than 110 billion tonnes of freight over land per year. This makes rail security a major issue for anyone involved in the movement of freight. The nature of the rail network – the sheer number of people using it every day and the wide geographical area it covers – makes it an attractive target for terrorists. Increased use of CCTV and surveillance solutions has reduced much of the risk, yet multiple threats remain, from lone gunmen to larger-scale plots to cause havoc and devastation.


A key area for rail operators


is cyber security and the risks posed by attacks and disruptions at an IT level. So much of the modern rail system now relies on computerised operations, from signals to cargo management. Andrew Fitzmaurice, CEO of cyber security experts, Templar Executives believes that the industry as a whole must increase its knowledge of the cyber threats it faces, which is why his company is exhibiting at the Transport Security Expo and showcasing its integrated cyber security solutions. “A few years ago, I was known


as ‘the dentist’ – people called me when there was a problem. Once fixed, they hoped they wouldn’t need my


services anytime


soon. Whilst that attitude has changed in many sectors, I feel the transport sector’s knowledge of cyber security and the potential consequences of not addressing it proactively is under-developed.”


Aviation


Airport security is rising up the international agenda, with investment predicted to rise to $12.67 billion by 2023, according to global research consultancy, Frost and Sullivan. This covers such areas as perimeter security, control and integration, cyber security, communications, surveillance and more. The report predicts that cyber security will


Issue 7 2015 - Freight Business Journal


see the fastest rise in spending as terrorist threats become more sophisticated and the airports rely more and more on IT to control the flow of cargo and passengers through them. Critical to airport management


is how to cope in the aſtermath of an attack and how to keep operating to ensure cargo can still be transported. Those wishing to cause mayhem rely on airport operators having little or no clear plan to resume normal operations aſter a major disaster. They seek to halt cargo, disrupt passengers and generally bring safe, smooth operations to a standstill for as long as possible. As investment in security


continues to expand, and experts come together more and more to discuss integrated solution and international co-operation, so airports can strengthen their defences and prepare more effectively for attacks and disruption. Events like Transport Security Expo play a huge part in this on-going goal for an holistic, educated, global approach.


Cross-sector co-operation


Transport Security Expo has been organised by Nineteen Events. CEO, Peter Jones is looking forward to facilitating cross- sector


co-operation amongst


the thousands of international security professionals, end-users and exhibitors. He is standing by to welcome over 30 official government delegations from around the world, whom he hopes will be amongst the first to experience a brand new feature of the show – an interactive, escorted tour to highlight complete security solutions. “Our World of Perimeter Security brings everything together in one place for attendees, offering them a complete perimeter security picture. It will show them exactly what they need and how much it will cost, all in one expert-led,


///NEWS


interactive tour.” Another ‘first’ for this year also


emphasises co-operative working. A brand-new ‘Future Borders Experience’ will showcase the next generation of border security, with demonstrations of some of the most advanced integrated solutions coming onto the market including facial recognition, iris capture and imaging systems. Of


particular interest to the


freight sector, the show’s security vehicles zone will also highlight cutting-edge technology around vehicles designed to transport cash and valuable cargo, as well as armoured cars and related security solutions. Transport Security Expo has


an excellent and long-standing track record. According to Peter Jones, 2015 promises to be a particularly important year to attend. “Government and industry are coming together to tackle big transport issues with a genuinely joined-up perspective. Anyone involved in the transport security sector who is serious about engaging with top-level, international


decision makers


absolutely has to be involved.” As security experts continue


to analyse and deal with the aſtermath of the Tianjin disaster, so the importance of international co-operation and sharing of knowledge has become clear. Expertise surrounding the toxic mix of chemicals and working protocols in the warehouse leading up to the explosion has been shared and analysed across countries and used to bring investigators closer to uncovering the people and issues involved. Learnings from this tragic event will provide the global security industry with valuable data to help in the on-going fight to prevent similar explosions happening in the future. Transport Security Expo runs


from 2 to 3 December 2015 at London Olympia. Further details, tickets and exhibitor lists are all available online at: www.transec. com.


Ministerial visit


UK Minister for Security, John Hayes, will visit Transec and give a plenary address on the first day of the event. His responsibilities include counter terrorism, Northern


Ireland-related terrorism and security


exports. During his tour of the show, he will visit the Future Borders Experience which is being delivered in collaboration with the Home Office Security Innovation Demonstration Centre (SIDC) and the Security Innovation Technology Consortium (SITC). The UK has unique expertise in border security and the Future Borders Experience will enable visitors to see it for themselves and how the different elements can be brought together.


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