Wiley Handbook of Science and Technology for Homeland Security, 4 Volume Set

HARDEN SECURITY OF HIGH-RISK AND CRITICAL SUPPLY CHAINS

GLEN HARRISON

Transportation Policy and Planning Group, Center for Transportation Analysis, Energy and Transportation Science Division, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Knoxville, Tennessee

1 INTRODUCTION

Container transportation forms the circulatory system of the world economy. Over 48 million cargo containers move between major seaports each year. More than 16 million containers arrive in the United States each year by ship, truck, and rail. Ninety percent of the world's nonbulk cargo moves through container supply chains. A supply chain is defined as a “linked set of resources and processesthat begins with the sourcing of raw materials and extends through the delivery of products or services to the end user across the modes of transport [1]”. Supply chains include the infrastructure of raw materials and parts suppliers, manufacturers, containers, transport vehicles (sea vessels, rail cars, and motor carriers), intermodal facilities (ports, rail yards, and truck terminals), distribution centers, and retail centers. The financial and logistics support organizations facilitate the movement of containers through the supply chain. There is no single government regulatory system that governs the movement of container shipments through the international supply chain. In fact, there is a mosaic of international and national regulations that govern container shipments. The regulatory framework that is applicable to a specific container ...