The paper was presented at the Polish Logistics Congress “Logistics 2004 – Logistics networks in an integrated European market”. Poznań, May 19-21, 2004.
The SIT (Safe and Secure Intermodal Transport) thematic network is an international forum for cooperation and information exchange regarding safety and security in intermodal freight transport. This initiative is a response to the existing need for harmonization in the field of safety and security standards on an international scale, as well as seamless information exchange within the environment of various transport modes and between supply chain participants. The SIT thematic network focuses on road, rail, and water transport.
The European Commission’s work focuses particularly on the strategy of revitalizing intermodal transport with the participation of railways, as road freight transport has exhausted its development potential, and social costs (so-called external costs) are too high.
Rail transport is the safest and most ecological form of goods transport. It is expected that after the enlargement of the European Union, as a result of the free movement of goods, there will be an increase in rail freight, especially on the East-West line. The proximity of Russia, whose economy is developing rapidly, will remain significant. It is expected that the Trans-Siberian Railway will be activated for the transport of goods from Korea, China, and other Far Eastern countries to the EU, including dangerous goods.
This will allow for even better utilization of Poland’s location at the intersection of major East-West and North-South transport corridors. Economic recovery in Poland and growing trade with EU countries mean an increase in demand for raw materials from the East, which can be successfully transported via intermodal transport. Undoubtedly, the attractiveness of the so-called Broad Gauge Metallurgy Line (LHS), whose 400-kilometer Polish section runs from the border with Ukraine (Hrubieszów) to Silesia (to Sławków), will also increase. The projected growth in intermodal transport also means an increase in threats to transported cargo, which should be properly secured, as cargo theft in transit is a growing problem for European industry and society. It is estimated that approximately several billion EUR worth of cargo is stolen worldwide, a large part of which is in Europe. It is estimated that about 85% of all cases recorded in the high-tech sector involve theft and “loss in transit”. Additionally, in recent years, there has been an approximately 60% increase in truck hijackings. These thefts, often carried out by international criminal groups, are becoming increasingly aggressive. The transport system is also frequently used for the illegal transport of goods and people within and in transit through the European Union.
Every year, European industry loses billions of euros due to criminal offenses within, as part of, or in connection with the transport chain. Each criminal incident is not only a direct cost to the industry (cost of shipment, loss of sales revenue, customer dissatisfaction), as the proceeds from these acts are used to develop new methods of operation, fueling a spiral of crime. There is also an increased threat of terrorism, such as: the possible transfer of weapons of mass destruction or the hijacking and destruction of a means of transport used as a weapon.
To increase the level of security for the entire transport chain, the SIT thematic network proposes:
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securing key elements of transport infrastructure,
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accreditation of secure transport service providers,
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providing advance information about shipments,
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ensuring proper system functioning through coordination of efforts,
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securing locks for transport containers.
Following the attack on the World Trade Center on September 11, 2001, the European Union took action to introduce security measures in transport in Europe. Security standards in air and maritime transport were transferred from the USA, and the Community is currently working together with international organizations such as IMO, ILO, and ICAO to improve transport security. The European Community has established common rules regarding, among other things, civil aviation security, such as: access control to important areas of the airport and aircraft, monitoring of passengers and baggage, training, and control of technical security measures (e.g., strengthening cockpit doors). Common rules regarding civil aviation security were established in Directive 2320/2002.
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