BigBear.ai , a specialized defense technology company providing mission-ready AI for national security and trade & travel customers, announced that PTG (Panama Transshipment Group), the country’s largest logistics operator, has signed a commercial agreement to be the first to deploy a new AI-powered cargo security management solution – the International Shipping Compliance application – developed by BigBear.ai and Narval. PTG is already using the technology to increase supply chain transparency.
Also Read: CIO Influence Interview with Kyle Wickert, Field CTO at AlgoSec
“Securing the global supply chain requires innovation, trust, and the ability to verify each handoff along the way,” said Kevin McAleenan, CEO, BigBear.ai.
Narval Holding Corp. and its subsidiary, International Shipping Compliance S.A. (ISC), launched the International Shipping Compliance application with BigBear.ai in August 2025.
Modern trade moves at extraordinary speed and volume. This new cargo security management solution provided by ISC and powered by BigBear.ai technology features layered intelligence using biometrics and advanced analytics to give operators a clearer view of where cargo is, who is handling it, and whether the profile of the cargo has changed during its journey. It increases visibility for customs and border security professionals, which reduces the likelihood that contraband enters the supply chain and increases the chances of identifying the risk early enough to react.
Troy Miller, former acting U.S. Customs and Border Protection commissioner, joined BigBear.ai in March 2026 as Senior Vice President of Department of Homeland Security Solutions. Miller said:
“Even the best customs and law enforcement agencies around the world can only physically inspect a fraction of global cargo. The answer is not slowing commerce. It is making supply chains smarter, more transparent, and more secure. Criminal organizations no longer rely solely on covert routes or hidden smuggling corridors. Today, they exploit the very arteries of legitimate global commerce—ports, free trade zones, trucking routes, and containerized cargo systems that power the world economy. That is what makes this new commercial deployment in Panama so significant, and why others can learn from the rapid implementation.”
The cargo chain-of-custody application co-developed between BigBear.ai and International Shipping Compliance S.A. (ISC), uses biometric verification to link drivers and transport vehicles directly to containers and security seals, establishing an auditable record of accountability from origin to destination. A centralized operations platform aggregates real-time fleet and driver data, enabling logistics operators to detect anomalies, monitor cargo flows, and generate actionable intelligence to disrupt smuggling and mitigate terrorism-related risks. By delivering verified, real-time chain-of-custody data directly to customs agencies, the platform can help reduce the manual burden of cargo inspection and risk assessment, giving authorities the intelligence needed to act quickly. The solution complies with BASC and C-TPAT international security standards.
“Securing the global supply chain requires innovation, trust, and the ability to verify each handoff along the way,” said Kevin McAleenan, CEO, BigBear.ai. “By launching in Panama, a critical gateway for global trade, we are laying the foundation for broader regional adoption and collaboration with international shipping lines.”
“The future of global trade depends on secure, trusted, and transparent logistics networks,” said Mario Pérez Balladares, Chairman of Narval. “Panama stands at the center of international commerce, and this collaboration with BigBear.ai represents an important step toward strengthening supply chain integrity across the region and beyond.”
The Panama Canal is one of the world’s most critical arteries of global commerce — connecting trade flows between Asia, the United States, Europe, and South America, and facilitating approximately 5–6% of global maritime trade. Panama’s port system serves as one of the leading transshipment hubs in the Americas, handling approximately 10 million TEUs (twenty-foot equivalent unit) annually, with nearly 90% tied to transshipment activity across its Atlantic and Pacific container terminals. It is a prime target for transnational criminal organizations seeking to move narcotics, contraband, and counterfeit goods through otherwise lawful trade flows. For example, in 2023, according to The Panama Canal Authority, Panamanian authorities seized more than 120 metric tons of cocaine tied to containerized cargo moving through canal-adjacent facilities.
Catch more CIO Insights: The CIO as a Value Creator: Moving Beyond Cost Centers to Revenue Drivers
[To share your insights with us, please write to psen@itechseries.com ]
