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Best airfreight security practices

South Africa’s largest manufacturer and distributor of security seals Vikela Aluvin’s (Aluvin) close relationship with many of the world’s leading security sealing companies has enabled it to benchmark the best airfreight security sealing practices worldwide and institute these for its local customers. This is according to Aluvin MD Kevin Norwitz. He adds that C-TPAT compliance is crucial to the mix.

“In essence the C-TPAT requirement is that all cargo containers entering the US from foreign points of origin must be secured with high-security seals, which are C-TPAT compliant for certain strength tests. This obviously applies to both sea freight and airfreight containers and there are obvious operational differences between the two. In conjunction with our principals E.J. Brooks and Envopak, we are able to supply our customers with such seals for both applications,” says Norwitz.

Norwitz emphasises the importance of airfreight users understanding C-TPAT compliance. “C-TPAT puts the emphasis on self-policing rather than customs verifications, and the more C-TPAT partners in one’s supply chain, the less the chance of one’s cargo being set aside for time-wasting customs inspections.”

The C-TPAT requirements and the ISO standard 17712 apply mainly to sea freight containers, but there are obvious security risks relating to air cargo as well. Airfreight containers differ in size and design to normal sea freight containers and therefore different seals need to be used.

“Besides the traditional bolt and cable type of security seals there is a growing move towards electronic seals using radio frequency technology,” says Norwitz. “This makes tracking and tracing of the container as well as the integrity of the seal during the logistics process far more accurate and quicker, which is obviously of huge benefit to the entire industry.”

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