US Maritime Administration (MARAD) Selects Oberthur Card Systems

The pilot is organized by a Ship Operations Cooperative Program which evaluates the technology for potential application in the maritime industry. The pilot credential program will be issued to participating Merchant Mariners through a licensing agreement with XTec, an independent developer, producer and licensor of security solutions, subcontractor to BearingPoint for this project. The pilot demonstration compliments efforts being undertaken by the federal agencies to improve the security of U.S. intermodal transportation. U.S. Merchant Mariners are responsible for transporting commercial and military goods, and are key to ensuring sufficient sealift capacity and intermodal transportation infrastructure exist for homeland security. The cards will initially be issued to voluntary U.S. Merchant Mariners participants in the MAC demonstration and have the potential for expanded deployment in the future. The Oberthur Card Systems’ smart card is the first of its type to receive the U.S. government’s FIPS 140-2 Level 3 certification.