Remote monitoring can
be undertaken
at each intermodal stage
SECURITY SEALS have moved into the electronic age. Far removed from the concept of a tag controlling the security of a package, a prototype of the latest development now undergoing tests abroad has arrived in South Africa.
It's not just a seal, it's a whole intelligence system. In fact, a whole communication system, says Kevin Norwitz, m.d. Aluvin Securiseal, one of the country's leading security seal providers.
The new E-Seal, currently being tested at Singapore and Rotterdam harbours, works on radio frequencies. The only time human hands touch it is when it is locked onto the container by the initial shipper, and when it is released electronically at its final destination.
Once engaged it sets off its own frequency, which can be monitored either by a remote hand-held operator, where logging and recording can be undertaken from as far away as 10m, or by a 'reader' which is placed in the confines of the container warehouse at a harbour.
With data entered only at the point of loading, remote monitoring can be undertaken at each intermodal stage, which eliminates human error. Equally important is that it offers tamper-proof security, making it ideal for high value and sensitive cargoes.
It is a long way from the traditional bolt and cable type of seals in everyday use, and shows the lengths to which manufacturers are going to provide the most up-to-date forms of security, says Norwitz.
Pilferage and theft from containers is not something which happens only in this country. It's a worldwide problem, and beating the criminals is the target with all of these devices.
The conventional bolt and cable seals are readily available at all levels and strengths in this country. However, many of them have now been improved to make them reusable.
Improvements on these have also been developed with one being operated by a custom-built opening tool. The bolt itself is strong enough to prevent any ordinary cutting tool from penetrating it. This makes it particularly useful to fleet operators, who bolt it in place at point of loading and it remains intact until the consignee opens the container using the opening tool.
Another reusable item, though not suited to containers but aimed at trucking operations, is a metal cable seal which is fitted onto the back of the truck and which generates its own serial number. This cannot be repeated during tampering, in which the seal throws out the number thus disclosing at the point of delivery that there has been a theft attempt made during the journey.
Reusable seals are naturally more costly upfront than the standard types but are more cost effective in the long-term in that they can be used over and over again, says Norwitz.
By Leonard Neill
Copyright Now Media (Pty) Ltd
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