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Four More Ports Join U.S. Cargo Inspection Effort
The British ports of Liverpool, Southampton, Thamesport and Tilbury are expected to fully implement the Container Security Initiative on Nov. 1, U.S. and British officials announced yesterday (see GSN, Aug. 26). “By implementing the CSI in a further four U.K. ports, Customs demonstrates commitment in the fight against terrorism,” British Paymaster General and Customs Minister Dawn Primarolo said. “We will continue to share intelligence and cooperate with our partners overseas to prevent suspect material from falling into the hands of terrorists.” The program is scheduled to remain in a testing phase at the four seaports through the end of October, according to the U.S. Homeland Security Department. The initiative permits U.S. authorities to target shipments of high-risk cargo for inspection before they leave international ports for U.S. waters. “The primary purpose of CSI is to protect the global trading system and the trade lanes between CSI ports and the U.S.,” said U.S. Customs and Border Protection Commissioner Robert Bonner. “By expanding CSI to the ports of Liverpool, Southampton, Thamesport and Tilbury, the government of the United Kingdom is helping to make a safer, more secure world trading system.” The Container Security Initiative now operates at 30 major seaports in Europe, Asia, Africa and North America, according to the U.S. State Department, and is expected to continue expanding. The initiative was proposed by Bonner and launched in January 2002. The United Kingdom signed a CSI declaration of principles on Dec. 9, 2002, and the program is already operating at the British port of Felixstowe. (State Department release, Oct. 19).
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