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Container shipping lines have been warned that bill of lading information
for US-destined cargo will no longer be considered adequate by US
authorities.
Christopher Koch, president and CEO of the US-based liner shipping
association World Shipping Council, said that US officials are now looking
at improving the quality of data used in conducting risk assessments on
containerised cargo.
Currently, containers moving into US are required to be examined at the port
of origin under the Container Security Initiative (CSI).
US Customs has posted its officials at selected ports worldwide, including
at Port Klang and Pelabuhan Tanjung Pelepas to work with local Customs
officials in inspecting the containers before they are loaded for shipment
to US.
He said they are likely to implement new requirements by the end of this
year.
Currently, carriers are required to provide the bill of lading data on cargo
destined for the US 24 hours prior to loading in a foreign port, as an
adjunct to the Container Security Initiative.
Koch said: “Because the government's strategy is to inspect containerised
cargo on a risk assessment basis, the government recognises that it must
improve the cargo shipment data it currently uses for its risk assessment.
An ocean carrier's bill of lading by itself is not sufficient for cargo
security screening.”
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