At CNS in Nashville two weeks ago, the question “What concerns you most?” was thrown at delegates attending an early morning session titled “Importance of Associations In Making Cargo Move.”
      Overwhelmingly, the answer we heard most was “security and safety.”
      Although air cargo security and safety was touched upon briefly at that session and may have been explored further during the following two days at CNS, we thought adding an expert voice to the discussion might help our global readership to join in the discussion.
      So we contacted somebody that knows more about air cargo security than anybody on the planet—the always eagle-eyed Harald Zielinski, Lufthansa Cargo Head of Security & Risk Prevention Management.
      Harald Zielinski has a strong police background, including time on the street in Frankfurt (his dad Leo was also a member of the Frankfurt Police Force). He was already a great cop before he joined Lufthansa at its cargo headquarters at FRA.
      For the past several years, Harald has held high profile air cargo meetings to present security issues to large audiences both in Germany and the U.S.
      It’s worth mentioning that Lufthansa stands alone for its continued effort in making public the security dialogue.
      “Moving forward is a terrific challenge to everybody,” Harald Zielinski says.
      We think that somebody should create an industry-wide post and name Harald as the first “Commissioner of Air Cargo Security.”
     “Air cargo security is starting to show signs of alignment and recognition.  With the adoption of standards by ICAO, outreach of standards through the EU’s ACC3 regime, and the further development of mutually recognized programs by various states, the air cargo supply chain is improving. However, these standards and measures are continually challenged. We cannot let industry remain idle and we must continue to drive innovation with new procedures and/or technology and refine and strengthen measures already in place.
      “With incidents such as the ongoing effects of the Metro Jet incident out of Egypt, pressure will continue to undoubtedly mount, leading to more changes in the future. While the secure air cargo supply chain is taking shape and strengthening with each day that passes, the developing insider threat will challenge us all. The more recent incident in Brussels reminds us to remain cautious and mindful of our surroundings and the unsettling sense that transportation remains a terrorist target.  Keeping this in mind, we need to continually assess our risk and associated measures and incorporate changes that are practical, effective, and non-politically charged.”
      Harald believes that a secure air cargo facility relies on three things: “people; the proactive development, continual assessment, and assurance of security measures; and integrated technology.”
      On the technology front, Harald believes much is moving forward,  but there are certain areas of stagnation.
      “X-Ray technology has remained idle, with few algorithm and software changes. Trace detection has expanded its reach globally and changes are improving with an increased library of detection capabilities and non-radioactive sources, allowing greater flexibility in relocating units based on operational demand.
      “Canine or Explosives Detection Dogs remain a small but rather important ‘technology’ that remains underutilized globally in part due to government approval, availability, or approved standards. 
      “We expect to see further growth in the use of EDD to secure air cargo in the future.
      “Lufthansa Cargo remains in close connection with our partners to ensure the security controls applied to air cargo remain effective and consistent. With our global presence in the field, our assigned area security managers for Germany, EMEA, Asia, and the Americas ensure the stations remain prepared and measures are applied in a high standard.
      “Rigorous and reliable audits are critical in order to maintain security measures in a high standard and to avoid complacency setting in.
      “Our partners share our commitment to security and our security and operational management ensure our standards are applied at the level we expect.”
      Looking at the rest of 2016, Harald is optimistic about Lufthansa Cargo’s upcoming security forum as a means to discuss the current status of security in air cargo.
      “This year, we are hosting a security conference on May 19th at an exclusive and eccentric location in downtown Frankfurt. 
      “We expect to host an open and honest discussion on the state of security in our industry, the current and changing threats, the challenges and successes in the supply chain and the future outlook.  “Our keynote address will be presented by Mr. Wolfgang Bosbach, member of the Christian Democratic Union Party and Bundestag Committee of the Interior. He will provide an overview of the insider threat and the state of security.”
      In terms of what air cargo can do better as an industry, Harald has a concise and straightforward list of priorities:
      “Many entities, both public and private, will offer various forms of security and related services; however, one should only accept proven security measures.
      “[We must] ensure training and screening standards are applied adequately; improve awareness (both internal and external); ensure a quality management system is utilized; and ensure duplicative security screening measures [as] screening 100 percent by X-Ray is not possible.”
      Harald’s greatest concern for security in air cargo today is “political interference.”
      “We must balance our objectives and ensure measures are not applied in a careless and ineffective manner. Governments must remain in the forefront of providing us insight into the threat, whereas industry is better suited to define the vulnerabilities and consequences.”
Geoffrey

Will container weighing be a boost for air?
     Air freight demand could be the big beneficiary of new maritime rules due for introduction this summer. But a whole range of scenarios are possible, leaving shippers, forwarders, 3PLs, and airlines with plenty of supply chain scenarios to—quite literally—weigh up, according to Wolfgang Lehmacher, Head of Supply Chain and Transport Industries at the World Economic Forum.
      The new rules from the International Maritime Organization come in the form of an amendment to the Safety of Life at Sea Convention’s (Solas) container weighing stipulations. As of July 1, shippers and their proxies will be compelled to verify the gross weight of packed containers on the bill of lading before the box can be loaded onboard a vessel. The move is designed to prevent shipping casualties; misdeclared box weights have contributed to a number of incidents in recent years, including the capsizing of a feeder ship in Spain last year.
      However, as previously reported in FlyingTypers, many analysts have predicted supply chain disruption and port congestion this summer as a result of the new rules.
      Lehmacher told FlyingTypers there was still confusion over how the new container weighing regime would be implemented by each IMO member state. And, he said, although guidelines had been issued, they were being interpreted in many different ways.
      “All scenarios are possible, ranging from major delays and disruptions to very little impact,” he said. “Ideally, the shippers are going to be prepared and will fulfill the requirements—that is, the exporter will provide the complete VGM (verified gross mass container declaration), including cargo, packing materials, and the container. The earlier a task is completed throughout the supply chain the better for costs and service.
      “Making weight checking further down in the process the exception seems a likely scenario, even though some ports and parties might have the ability, capacity, and interest to perform the weighing, welcoming the business opportunity and revenue.”
      But Lehmacher believes that, in reality, there will be discrepancies around the world in how the change is managed and this could lead to some modal shift to air.
     “Some of the 171 countries and three associate members of the IMO will manage the situation well, others will possibly struggle,” he said. “In case of major disruptions, I hope stakeholders will take corrective action before the situation gets out of hand, as happened with the West Coast port strikes.”
      If implementation goes reasonably well, he said airfreight might benefit initially through some preemptive measures. “Of course, if things go wrong, airfreight will benefit in a bigger way,” he added. “EDI solutions—offered by companies such as INTTRA, CargoSmart, or Infor/GT Nexus etc.—might play an important role going forward."
      He also warned that companies should not just rely on resilience and contingency plans to manage the change to the new rules.
      “With profits and customer retention at stake on a global scale, retailers and supply chain managers should seek contact with the supply chain services providers, mainly transport and logistics companies, but also governmental agencies to discuss the approach to the VGM requirement and collaboratively plan for possible scenarios,” he said.
      “The plan should include the roadmap to compliance, common agreed level of risk tolerance, and preemptive measures, such as moving or creating buffer stocks and alternative routings and potential air lifts.
      “This collective work will also form the basis for timely actions in case of disruptions.
      “Best positioned are companies with a culture of collaboration, including well established relations along the supply chain and with governmental agencies, and a holistic approach to supply chain management as a collaborative effort.
      “The supply chain champions are prepared and will once again leverage their competitive advantage to outpace competition and gain in reputation and market share.”
Sky King

    This is a special time of year. In a small corner of our rather tiny backyard, the most wonderful pair of tulips are back in bloom to help welcome the sweet springtime.
    They are gazing up at the sun after having waited patiently for the New York City weather to warm up. They finally opened up this morning.
    I look at the mountains of boxes inside the reefers in air cargo buildings around the world; I have marveled at the fields of flowers at The Keukenhof; I gaze in wonder at the huge expanses of tulips on Park Avenue in Manhattan; I enjoy the tulips our son brought home as bulbs some years back after a trip to Amsterdam, planted in a neat row elsewhere in our garden.
    But this brace of supple beauties are sentinels heralding spring. Thirty years ago we transplanted them from an Easter pot, and every year since they have come back to say their brief and joyous hello. We depend on their lovely contrast of robust red and delicate yellows to welcome the season.
    Our tulips are a touchstone of another year holding the promise of the long, warm summer ahead.
    Now thoughts of backyard furniture, cookouts, hot dogs, and marshmallow family time are with us.
    The message of the flowers is always the same: hope, renewal, and beauty. They chide us to take a pause in the day’s occupation.
    Often during the year, sometimes long into the season when they are gone and even during the winter while they are sleeping, I will remember these beautiful flowers.
    Take a tip from the tulips. Look up at the sun.
Geoffrey

Vol. 15 No. 32
FIATA Goes Green In San Antonio
Not Easy Being Green
BIFA Backs Multimodal May
Chuckles For April 21, 2016
Eye In The Sky
Prince Was American Royalty
Passover Blessings