CBP Announces that CSI Is Operational at 25 Ports
U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) has issued a press release announcing that the Container Security Initiative (CSI) is now operational at 25 ports in Europe, Asia, Africa, and North America.
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CBP's List of the 25 Currently Operational CSI Ports
According to the press release, the 25 operational ports include: Halifax, Montreal, Vancouver, Rotterdam, Le Havre, Bremerhaven, Hamburg, Antwerp, Singapore, Yokohama, Tokyo, Nagoya, Kobe, Hong Kong, Gteborg, Felixstowe, Genoa, La Spezia, Busan, Durban, Port Klang, Tanjung Pelepas, Piraeus, Algeciras, and Laem Chabang. (See ITT's Online Archives or 08/19/04 news, 04081910, for BP summary of the latest CSI ports to achieve operational status.)
CBP Plans to Expand CSI to Cover 80% of All Containers Coming into U.S.
CBP Commissioner Bonner notes that CBP plans to further expand the CSI network to provide port security protection to more than 80% of all containers coming into the U.S.
CSI will be expanding to strategic locations that ship substantial amounts of cargo to the U.S. and that have the infrastructure and technology in place to participate in CSI.
CBP Outlines Core Elements of CSI Program, Etc.
CBP states that CSI is founded on four core elements: (1) using intelligence and automated information to identify and target all containers that pose a risk for terrorism, (2) pre-screening those containers that pose a risk at the port of departure before they arrive at U.S. ports, (3) using detection technology to quickly pre-screen containers that pose a risk, and (4) using smarter, tamper-evident containers.
CBP also notes that non-intrusive inspection technology allows the screening of a larger portion of commercial traffic in less time. CBP states that with these units, Customs officers use large-scale gamma ray and x-ray imaging systems to safely and efficiently screen conveyances for contraband, including weapons of mass destruction. CBP adds that such units can scan the interior of a full-size 40-foot container in under a minute.
CBP Press Release (dated 08/25/04) available at http://www.cbp.gov/xp/cgov/newsroom/press_releases/08252004.xml