Project description Improving Risk managementProtecting shipping containers from terroristsA special detection kit developed by European researchers will help protect Europe’s ports from being used by terrorists for attacks on the continent. A massive 200 million shipping containers a year are moved between the world’s major seaports, with much of the traffic inbound to Europe. The problems associated with securing such a vast number of containers provide terrorists with perhaps their best opportunity to smuggle weapons and explosives into the EU. However, this scenario is set to become a lot less likely as a special detection kit, developed by researchers in the EURITRACK project, is deployed in ports around the continent. The project team focused on the development and testing of a non-intrusive kit able to determine the chemical composition of objects in sealed containers, without having to open them. Risk is too highThe most common system in place for checking the content of containers is simply not always capable of distinguishing between benign and threatening material, meaning the risk of terrorists smuggling in explosives or even ‘dirty’ bombs is quite high. Until the new system tested by the project is deployed, inspections of containers at our seaports will continue to be based on X-ray systems, which provide limited information, such as shape and density, about objects in containers. However, terrorists are becoming increasingly sophisticated and are able to disguise weapons and explosives from the current inspection methods. More stringent checksRather than reinventing the wheel, the EURITRACK researchers decided to use the existing X-ray detection system. They added to its effectiveness by providing additional information on the type of objects that could be suspected of being terrorist threats They specifically added information about chemical compositions of objects which cannot be disguised. A system providing details of an object’s chemical composition can identify any substance, including dangerous ones. As an added bonus, the device can identify drugs, which are also often smuggled in containers. The researchers also decided that a two-pronged approach was needed to make the system even more sophisticated in detecting suspect materials. They developed the hardware able to conduct more stringent searches and the software to guide the system. Simplicity of operationSimplicity of use needed to be built in as the equipment would be manned by non-expert controllers, such as customs officials. Due to the sheer volume of container traffic, searches would also need to be conducted as quickly as possible. EURITRACK came up with a prototype device, called the Tagged Neuron Inspection System. The device uses neutrons, tiny subatomic particles, to do the searching and identifying of potentially dangerous goods in containers. oftware specially developed for the device analyses the readings and compares them to a central database containing those given off by a range of known hazardous substances. Making Europe saferThe research demonstrated the whole system of hardware and software, named the European Illicit Trafficking Countermeasures Kit, at a conference held in Rijeka, Croatia in September 2007. The demonstration showed that the system could be operated by customs officers without difficulty. The full inspection of a container, including X-ray inspection using the kit, took less than 15 minutes. The rollout will help make Europe a more secure place and will also assist EU exporters sending goods to comply with the rules set by security conscious destinations. Show the project objective Hide the project objective Shipping is a key international industry; 95% of the world cargo is moved by ship corresponding to over 200 million containers per year exchanged between major seaports. This huge movement leads to a risk that a container could be used by a terrorist group. As a result, the maritime industry must consider very seriously any potential threat for disruption of the trade. Today, inspections of containers are largely based on X-or Gamma Ray systems but they provide limited information about contained objects such as their shape and density. Controllers can not always distinguish between benign and threat materials and need additional information about the chemical composition of suspect items in order to detect illicit materials such as explosives, drugs or dirty bombs. The 3-year EURITRACK STREP aims at increasing the security of the seaports by developing a European Illicit Trafficking Countermeasures Kit to non-intrusively detect explosives or other threat materials concealed in shipping containers. The project will offer to end-users a very useful tool, more advanced than commercial-off-the-shelf equipment in order to optimise the time needed for inspection. The system will consist of an innovative Tagged Neutron Inspection System (TNIS) that will non-intrusively permit an assay of the chemical composition of suspect contents located by X-Ray radiography. Software development is also a crucial part of the project since the innovation in the control system relies on the combination of two complementary techniques. An embedded information system will implement decision-making algorithms taking also into account data from electronic seals. The complete concept will be validated in the largest French container seaport (Le Havre) by the end- users themselves : French Customs as leaders of a European Custom Expert Group. Fields of science engineering and technologymedical engineeringdiagnostic imagingx-ray radiographyengineering and technologyelectrical engineering, electronic engineering, information engineeringelectronic engineeringcontrol systemssocial sciencespolitical sciencespolitical transitionsterrorismnatural sciencescomputer and information sciencessoftwaresoftware development Programme(s) FP6-IST - Information Society Technologies: thematic priority under the specific programme "Integrating and strengthening the European research area" (2002-2006). Topic(s) IST-2002-2.3.2.9 - Improving Risk management Call for proposal FP6-2003-IST-2 See other projects for this call Funding Scheme STREP - Specific Targeted Research Project Coordinator COMMISSARIAT A L ENERGIE ATOMIQUE ET AUX ENERGIES ALTERNATIVES EU contribution € 1 046 333,00 Address Rue leblanc 25 75015 Paris 15 France See on map Region Ile-de-France Ile-de-France Paris Activity type Research Organisations Links Contact the organisation Opens in new window Website Opens in new window Total cost No data Participants (9) Sort alphabetically Sort by EU Contribution Expand all Collapse all JRC -JOINT RESEARCH CENTRE- EUROPEAN COMMISSION Belgium EU contribution € 215 380,00 Address Rue de la loi 200 1049 Bruxelles / brussel See on map Region Région de Bruxelles-Capitale/Brussels Hoofdstedelijk Gewest Région de Bruxelles-Capitale/ Brussels Hoofdstedelijk Gewest Arr. de Bruxelles-Capitale/Arr. Brussel-Hoofdstad Activity type Research Organisations Links Contact the organisation Opens in new window Website Opens in new window Total cost No data SAPHYMO SA France EU contribution € 55 600,00 Address 5 rue du th�re 91300 Massy See on map Activity type Other Links Contact the organisation Opens in new window Total cost No data DIRECTION GENERALE DES DOUANES ET DROITS INDIRECTS France EU contribution € 35 840,00 Address 23 bis, rue de l'universite 75700 Paris See on map Activity type Other Links Contact the organisation Opens in new window Total cost No data SODERN SA France EU contribution € 268 700,00 Address Av. descartes 20 94450 Limeil-brevannes See on map Region Ile-de-France Ile-de-France Val-de-Marne Activity type Private for-profit entities (excluding Higher or Secondary Education Establishments) Links Contact the organisation Opens in new window Website Opens in new window Total cost No data RUDER BOSKOVIC INSTITUTE Croatia EU contribution € 179 000,00 Address Bijenicka cesta 54 10000 Zagreb See on map Region Hrvatska Grad Zagreb Grad Zagreb Activity type Research Organisations Links Contact the organisation Opens in new window Website Opens in new window Total cost No data ISTITUTO NAZIONALE DI FISICA NUCLEARE Italy EU contribution € 192 000,00 Address Via enrico fermi 54 00044 Frascati See on map Region Centro (IT) Lazio Roma Activity type Research Organisations Links Contact the organisation Opens in new window Website Opens in new window Total cost No data COSTRUZIONI APPARECCHIATURE ELETTRONICHE NUCLEARI CAEN SPA Italy EU contribution € 240 947,00 Address Via vetraia 11 55049 Viareggio See on map Region Centro (IT) Toscana Lucca Activity type Private for-profit entities (excluding Higher or Secondary Education Establishments) Links Contact the organisation Opens in new window Website Opens in new window Total cost No data INSTYTUT PROBLEMOW JADROWYCH IM.ANDRZEJA SOLTANA Poland EU contribution € 168 000,00 Address Ipj 05400 Swier/otwock See on map Activity type Research Organisations Links Contact the organisation Opens in new window Total cost No data KUNGLIGA TEKNISKA HOEGSKOLAN Sweden EU contribution € 48 200,00 Address Brinellvagen 8 100 44 Stockholm See on map Region Östra Sverige Stockholm Stockholms län Activity type Higher or Secondary Education Establishments Links Contact the organisation Opens in new window Website Opens in new window Total cost No data