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The Port of Tanjung Pelepas has become the 25th port worldwide to join the
US Container Security (CSI) that will involve US Customs officers being
stationed at Malaysia's showcase port in Johor.
The Department of Homeland Security, Customs and Border Protection (CBT) of
US is expected to station three inspectors at PTP, which becomes the second
Malaysian port, after Port Klang to join the US global maritime security
programme.
"The move to station the US Customs officers marks the full implementation
of the CSI at PTP," said its Chief Executive Officer, Datuk Mohd Sidek Shaik
Osman.
Sidek said PTP in fact became CSI port since the Malaysian government signed
a memorandum of understanding with the CBT early this year for Malaysian
Ports namely Port Klang and PTP but "we have now entered the implementation
stage".
"Even before the arrival of the officers, we have ensured safety elements of
the shipment to the US. However, today with the CBT team at our port it
marks the full roll-out of CSI and they will do their job of actual
targeting and identification of high-risk containers," Sidek said.
Sidek said the port, the Customs and CBT would ensure that there would be no
delay in the outbound containers to US market if shippers and lines follow
the procedures.
"We are happy to note that PTP has met the entire requirement for the
programme including detection equipment. Identifying and dealing with
high-risk containers at the earliest possible point protects the entire
international supply chain and all the world's major seaports," said Sidek.
CSI is a bold and necessary step towards eliminating that vulnerability.
It provides increased security for the US trade, without stifling the flow
of global trade. In fact we have three weekly sailing calls direct US ports
and some 20 per cent of our traffic bound to US markets said Sidek.
There are four core elements in the full implementation of CSI. First the US
Customs officers will identify "high-risk" containers, through the use of
advance information, before they are loaded onto board vessels destined for
the US. This cargo includes containers that may conceal - based on
intelligence and risk-targeting principles - terrorist weapons or even
terrorists.
The CBT officers will work closely with Malaysian Customs Officer and would
not be armed nor have power to arrest.
The examination involves the use of detection technology to pre-screen
high-risk containers, including both radiation detectors and large-scale
x-ray-type imaging equipment, so that the security inspection can be done
quickly without slowing down the flow of legitimate cargo.
For this purpose our Customs has placed a scanner machine and things are
moving very smooth said Sidek.
By using smarter, "tamper-evident" containers - containers at the port of
arrival that indicate to U.S. Customs and Border Protection officers whether
cargo has been tampered with after security screening overseas.
Currently, about 90 percent of all world cargo moves by container.
In the United States alone, almost half of incoming trade (by value) arrives
by containers aboard container ships. |
