Sealing of the container at the Powers International’s demonstration

A true smart container does not have an electronic device on the outside of the container. Instead, the device is installed in the container and measures what is happening inside the container.

An active RFID device will "wake up" and record changes inside the container, including date and time. It can also record and measure radiation and biochemical detection depending on the device attributes. The device can be linked to a GPS device, or as with active RFID, when the container is "read" at a checkpoint, a breach notification occurs. The container would then be inspected for the type of breach.

A cleared person (with C-TPAT certification for instance) at the departure and arrival point should be present. Jim Giermanski advises that those people attest to the accuracy of the manifest and content of the container, lock and unlock the doors and activate or deactivate the tracking system.

Powers International, an

Monitoring the breach while opening the container

international cargo security technology specialist, demonstrated its Sea-Cure satellite system which combines use of active RFID and satellite technology in detecting and reporting breaches of a sealed containers. One of the main advantages to Sea-Cure device is the capability of high speed, secure data transmission that ensures the tracking and security of a container as easy as checking voicemail or an email account. As shown on the picture, the Sea-Cure device is completely invisible from outside the container. There are tags on the container doors and a state-of-the art designed flat antenna on the ceiling. Its application electronically captures the identity of the person inspecting the loading and sealing the container at origin and the person opening the container at destination.

This device can record in real time a security breach and transmit to Department of Homeland Securities (DHS) which can trigger prompt action by U.S. Customs in identifying and capturing the perpetrator.

Smart Container from Powers International RFID tag on the door and flat satellite antenna