Trojan Horses

illustration by Arnum Endean

The fear that terrorists could exploit the container transport system for their ends was confirmed on 18 October 2001 when port authorities in the southern Italian port of Gioia Tauro discovered a stowaway within a well-appointed shipping container complete with bed, heater, toilet facilities and water.

The man's belongings included a cell phone, a satellite phone, a lap-top computer, airport security passes and an airline mechanic's certificate valid for New York's JFK, Newark, LA International and O'Hare airports.

The stowaway disappeared while on bond before further information could be gathered. However, what did become apparent was the apparent ease with which the container transport system was subverted in this case. The container slot was chartered by Maersk Sealand's Egyptian office and the container loaded in Port Said onto the German-owned, Andrew Weir-chartered, Antigua & Barbuda flagged, 2 959 TEU Ipex Emperor. The container was set to be transhipped at Gioia Tauro, carried to Rotterdam before once again being transhipped to its final destination in Canada. With the exception of its unusual cargo, this container move was nearly indistinguishable from any of the other 2.5 million handled at Gioia Tauro in 2001. In fact, had the stowaway not been attempting to widen the container's ventilation holes when port workers were nearby, the container would have likely passed through unhindered to its final destination.

-- OECD Maritime Transport Committee Report. July 2003