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On Feb. 11, Smart and Secure Tradelanes (SST) announced it received a grant from the U.S. Trade and Development Agency (USTDA) to add South Africa as the fifth continent participating in the automated ocean-container management and security initiative.

The grant will help fund a project designed to implement best practices and advanced technologies that enhance supply-chain security and efficiency between South Africa, United Kingdom and U.S. ports.

"Our support for this project underscores the U.S. government's commitment to work with developing world trading partners to ensure that improved supply-chain security facilitates, rather than hinders, global commerce," said USTDA Director Thelma Askey in a prepared statement.

SST also announced that Taiwan's Kaohsiung Harbor — the world's fourth largest port — will join the initiative. SST processes and technology will be installed at Kaohsiung Harbor and the Port of Los Angeles to automate the tradelane for major U.S. importers.

The SST real-time network uses automatic-identification technologies based on international standards that can be integrated with other technologies — such as sensors, automated surveillance cameras, biometric identification, gamma-ray image scanners and satellite tracking systems — to enhance security and visibility.

SST's network comprises 16 ports — including six of the world's largest — throughout North and South America, Europe and Asia.