Amsterdam is responding to incidents of theft with the implementation of tighter security requirements at its premises starting next year.

The Schiphol airport community has invested in a ‘Secure Import’ information system which will allow a ground handler to advise a forwarder that a shipment is ready for collection. The forwarder can then direct a transporter to pick up the shipment, and the information system will check whether these are the correct parties for this particular shipment and provide information to the ground handler on who will be collecting it and when this will happen.

Schiphol said the development of Secure Import was to improve security with logistics partners companies and employees experiencing increasing problems due to criminal activities in the transport of cargo to and from Schiphol. On 12 July, concerned parties signed a ‘best effort’ declaration in which they voiced their support for the new security system.

A new feature of the system is that sensitive shipment information will be shared only on a ‘need to know’ basis, which can help prevent data manipulation by third parties, Schiphol explained.

Joost van Doesburg, head of cargo at Schiphol airport, said: “With this new system we can now even better protect goods transported via Schiphol against theft and undermining, and remain an attractive main port favored by shippers and forwarders to transport their high-quality cargo.”

Last year all air cargo handling agents at Schiphol therefore tightened the rules for access to their forecourts with all driver visits requiring notification via electronic registration.