The EU project INTEGRITY (Intermodal Global Door-to-door Container Supply Chain Visibility) aims at significant improvements of the reliability and predictability of global door-to-door container transports.
INTEGRITY achieved this ambitious aim!
Since September 2009 – after a project duration of one year – INTEGRITY-s open IT platform SICIS (Shared Intermodal Container Information System) tracks containers along the entire logistics chain by consolidating all relevant data and events which are generated during the transport. To date more than 1.600 containers were tracked by SICIS on their journey from China to Europe. This number will increase by including additional tradelanes in the demonstration activities until the end of the project in 2011.
SICIS is an open platform and offers various functions. As an example, interfaces to terminal operating systems were developed in order to feed terminal messages into the system.
Another important feature is linking the container monitoring data with AIS vessel tracking information provided by satellites.
A further essential SICIS feature especially for Customs is the possibility to upload consignment data, which can be used by Customs to further optimise risk assessment processes.
SICIS can easily be applied to any tradelane worldwide. Due to its sophisticated interfacing possibilities, there are practically no limitations in data exchange with other systems. Amongst others, interfaces to platforms like the EU projects Smart-CM dealing with similar aspects of container visibility and CHINOS addressing the issue of Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) in container logistics were developed. Additionally, data exchange with new cooperation partners like DP World was established, which is the second of the worldwide leading terminal operators implementing data exchange with SICIS in addition to project partner Hutchison Ports.
Pre-eminent is the ability of SICIS to interact with any kind of Container Security Devices (CSDs). Interfaces to CSD provider Savi Networks and China-based CIMC and Long Sun were developed. Furthermore, INTEGRITY is the first project to achieve official approval by China Customs of the usage of CSDs.
CSDs are used for initiating the container monitoring by sending a “start journey” event when the container doors are closed and for sending security events such as “door opened” to SICIS. Moreover, CSDs provide regular updates of the container position by using GPS. Nevertheless, the INTEGRITY approach is in no way dependent on CSD use. Equipping each and every container with a CSD in the near future is unlikely. Therefore, SICIS is still capable of monitoring containers which are not equipped with a CSD.
Already in the demonstration phase, INTEGRITY-s industry and Customs partners identify considerable benefits of using SICIS. The real-time information sharing of various parties along the supply chain results in an optimised visibility and makes processes simpler and more transparent. These enhancements lead to an improved reliability of the overall supply chain, enhanced security and a potential “Green Lane” by Customs in future, thus significantly improving the service for the customers.
For more information please visit: www.integrity-supplychain.eu
The ISL – Institute of Shipping Economics and Logistics was founded in Bremen in 1954. By combining tradition with modern science, we have since positioned ourselves as one of Europe-s leading institutes in the area of maritime research, consulting and knowledge transfer.
Today, around 60 employees at our offices in Bremen and Bremerhaven handle projects from all over the world in interdisciplinary teams. Whether in China and South-East Asia, Saudi Arabia, Dubai, Russia or the Ukraine, whether logistics systems, maritime economics and transport or information logistics are concerned – we ensure that innovative ideas are developed into solutions with practical applicability on behalf of our project partners from the public and private sector, both on a national and international level.
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