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Research on scanning containers without delays

German security researchers are developing methods to scan containers on their way to the US without delays. This accordingly to Prof. Frieder Meyer-Krahmer, State Secretary at the Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF) in view of the upcoming "Container Security Conference" which will take place in Bremen in mid November. At the invitation of the EU Industry Commissioner Günter Verheugen, European and American experts will discuss the perspectives of sea freight security.

Bremen is the largest European port for transatlantic shipping and would be particularly affected by new security requirements. Researchers, therefore, have been asked to find ways to prevent the massive obstruction of freight traffic. This comes as a result of strict regulations, passed by the US congress after 9/11, requiring all containers destined for the US to be scanned at the port of dispatch beginning in 2012.

However, because adequate technology to ensure smooth processing is still in development, there is a risk that the flow of goods around the world will be significantly slowed down. Germany and the US have agreed to develop a working plan, based on an agreement of cooperation in civil security research, signed by both countries last March. The Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF) has announced funding measures to establish a national programme which encourages researchers, businesses and consumers to submit their best solutions for safeguarding the flow of goods. The first round of the selection process has just concluded.

More information: www.sicherheitsforschungsprogramm.de