The Threat of Cargo Shipping Containers

F E B RUAR Y 2 0 1 6

THE THREATOF CARGOSHIPPINGCONTAINERS

EDWARDWITHROW

Cargo shipping containers areused across the world as a

means to transfer alarge quantity of products from

one location to another. Manyare carried by boat, and they

make transportationexceedingly convenient.

Of course, the United States hasmandated screening protocols for

these containers. There are scannersat the ports of countries that aresending containers to the United

States. However, these scanners arenot always used before a shipment is

sent.

Why is this a problem?

The containers could house anythingWithout proper security protocol in place, the United statesis accepting cargo shipping containers that could hold anynumber of dangers. This would be the perfect way to sendharmful products straight into our nation. The followingare just a few examples of the dangers they could hold.

Explosive ShipmentsThe most obvious concern in regards to shipping containers is

that they threaten our homeland security. If terrorists sendshipping containers filled with explosives into the United

States, they could successfully orchestrate an attack. This willhappen if the containers are not properly scanned.

Drug Shipments

The shipment of illegal drugs into the United States becomes amuch larger possibility with unscanned cargo shipping

containers. These massive containers can carry over 60,000pounds. That is 60,000 pounds of potentially illegal cargo.

Weapon ShipmentsPotentially even more horrifying than explosives,

these containers could contain any number of weapons. Theweapons could be chemical in nature, radiological, or

biological, and very difficult to contain once they reach ourborders.

Human ShipmentsHuman trafficking is already a large issue all over the world,

and it could only be exacerbated by unchecked shippingcontainers. Protective measures must be taken to ensure that

these containers do not provoke more human trafficking.

Thank you for viewing! For moreinformation on cargo shipping

containers, check out my blog atedwardwithrow.net