Cathay Cargo Terminal has been quietly developing the warehouse of the future, with this year’s innovations focused on security and autonomy. At the IATA World Cargo Symposium in Dubai, Cathay Cargo Terminal Chief Operating Officer Mark Watts picked up the new IATA Security Management System (SeMS) certification. Cathay Cargo Terminal is the first ground-handling organisation in Asia to receive the accreditation and attain “Operating Status”, which is the highest possible tier for a first-time SeMS certification.

“Security is foundational for any airport cargo terminal, and we are proud to be recognised by IATA for our strong commitment to all areas of security,” said Watts. “Our recent use of AI to augment intruder detection and unattended cargo detection, as well as our significant investments in cybersecurity, underscore our proactive approach to keeping our customers’ equipment, cargo and data safe.”

The IATA SeMS certification provides a structured framework for proactively managing regulatory compliance, security risks and vulnerabilities. Cathay Cargo Terminal has been commended for demonstrating well-defined security policies, active leadership involvement and robust regulatory compliance mechanisms. The certification joins the complete set of IATA CEIV accreditations: CEIV Pharma, CEIV Fresh, CEIV Live Animals and CEIV Lithium Batteries. The terminal was also one of the first handling companies in Asia to achieve IATA’s Environmental Assessment (IEnvA) certification.

Autonomous tractors

Separately, Cathay Cargo Terminal trialled autonomous electric tractor (AET) operations for direct towing from the inside of the terminal to the cargo apron at Hong Kong International Airport (HKIA). The trial saw fully autonomous electric tow-tractors with four cargo dollies positioning themselves at the correct cargo transfer gate within Cathay Cargo Terminal and, after loading, drive out of the terminal to the furthest cargo apron, delivering cargo to be loaded directly onto a Cathay Cargo flight.

Enhanced security features also allow the tractors to be digitally checked into and out of the terminal without compromising security. The project is a collaborative effort between Cathay Cargo Terminal, the Airport Authority Hong Kong and UISEE, one of the Chinese Mainland’s leading autonomous driving companies.

Watts added: “This has been an important proof-of-concept to show that AETs are capable of more advanced workflows than we have seen so far for cargo, reducing manual processes and significantly enhancing operational efficiency.”