Abstract
Since the 9/11 terrorist attacks against the US, there have been great efforts to ensure that there is no repeat of the same in any sectors in the country. The attacks brought about tension between the US and other countries. From this point, the nation realized that it was a target of hatred from very many corners of the world. Therefore, it sought to establish all ways in which it could track down any attempted terrorism attacks. Sea and air transport are some forms which are exposed to terrorist attacks. The most affected is the container industry, with several containers having been tampered with in several instances. Additionally, there has been the transportation of weapons of mass destruction. As a result of all this, the Customs Department came up with the Container Initiative Security. This has been a very good step as it has ensured that there is the reduction of risks as far as shipment of goods to the US from the other ports are concerned.
Container Security Initiative
Introduction
Due to the increase of insecurity in the US, the US Customs Department created a new rule, which is commonly referred to as the ‘twenty four hour advance manifest profile’. It required all the carriers to transmit their containers to the ports and give out a copy of cargo in a twenty four hour time span before loading of the cargo. This initiative has been of great help, as the Container Security Initiative (CSI) was launched in January 2002, so as to prevent the manipulation or exploitation of global containerized cargo set for the US (Nicholas, 2008). Indeed, the Container Security Initiative is a very efficient way to ensure that international trade runs smoothly.
Need for CSI
Since the end of the cold war, the United States has been a target of many countries as far as terrorist activities are concerned. It is likened to the biblical ‘Goliath’, and therefore the adversaries have to try their best to find a ‘David’ in order to fight them. Therefore, the adversaries have realized that the best way to attack the US is through the intermodal containers, as there is always a free opportunity. The intermodal container industry is large and complex, and therefore it becomes a very good source for the terrorist operations. This is because the government authorities will take time before they intercept and detect the contaminated cargo. Due to this insecurity, there has been very many disruptions which have affected the global trade. Therefore, the US has acted and provided security and safety of the people. The legitimacy of a government is questioned every time the terrorist attacks increase (Flynn, 2009).
The container transportation has been faced by several risks; for instance, there could be containers being transported full of explosives, and worse still, there can be weapons of mass destruction which could go off in major seaports of the cities. This would impose a great risk to the officials of the transportation system who would be required to explain to the Congress the reason why there is insecurity (Flynn, 2009).Therefore, it has been the responsibility of the United States and the trading partners to ensure that there is a very credible system meant to manage the risks where the boxes can be converted to vehicles of weapon delivery. There are several ways in which the transportation system can ensure that the containers are protected. The first way is to make sure that the containers have authorized and legitimate goods. Secondly, it is important to ensure that as the containers move through the transportation system, there is confirmation that its integrity has not in any way been compromised. Thirdly, the agents of the government have to ensure that they have the tools needed for inspection and targeting of the containers that they are concerned with (Flynn, 2009).
Since the September 9/11 terrorists attacks in the US, the mass media has been active in shedding light on whether the US would ever rise up to prevent and respond to catastrophic events of terrorism. This is even portrayed in the manner in which the intermodal security system in the US has been. Global commerce has become very vulnerable to mass disruption, where the container has been converted to a toll of terror. However, the threats of the terrorism have continued to persist regardless of all these efforts. There are very few tangible responses and prevention measures meant to inspire the confidence of the public in a bid to sustain the global commerce industry. Additionally, the rate of terrorist vulnerability is still very high. Therefore, this has led to the establishment of initiatives meant to protect the industry, such as the Container Security Initiative (CSI) (Flynn, 2009).
The CSI
There have been several organizations which protect the integrity of international trade by seeking malpractice and fraud. CSI is one of them (ICC, 2010), and it enhances international trade, which is defined as the exchange of goods and services between countries (Wise Geek 2010).
One of the most spectacular post 9/11 initiatives was that the nation owed a lot to the U.S. Customs Commissioner who enhanced the efforts of the US in ensuring that there was security into all international supply chains. This was through the partnership between the Customs –Trade Partnership Against terrorist (CTPAT) and the (CSI) Container security Initiative (Flynn, 2010). The CSI allows the Border Protection and US Customs which are in conjunction with the Customs Services of the host government to ensure security of the transport systems. This is through examining the containerized cargo with high risk goods at the foreign seaports, before the containers are loaded on the board vessels set for the United States. Currently, there are a total of fifty eight ports which participate in CSI. This accounts for eighty five percent of all the container traffic that is bound for the US (DHS, 2010).
Operational Ports in the World
In America, the operational ports include Santos in Brazil, Puerto Cortes in Honduras, Montreal (Vancouver) and Halifax in Canada. Additionally, Argentina has Buenos Aires as its operational port, Dominican Republic has Caucedo, Kingston in Jamaica, Balboa in Colon, and Cartagena in Colombia. Others include Manzanillo in Panama, Freeport in the Bahamas, and Kingston in Jamaica. The other ports are in Europe, the Middle East and two in Africa, in Egypt and South Africa (DHS, 2009).
Example of a CSI Company
One of the leading container security systems is referred to as the NAVALOCK Company. It has been running since 1984 and has been growing stronger each day. Its security devices are some of the strongest in the world, and have got very reliable sealing and locking systems for trucks and containers. Therefore, it ensures that there are very few security risks that the containers are subjected to once they are in transit. The top level management of the company has tried to make sure that the rise in terrorist increase, which was aggravated by the September 9/11 attacks is reduced by enhancing security. This is because the transport system has been exposed to risks, where containers arrive at their destinations with all the seals intact but with the contents of the boxes being substituted or even poisoned (Navlock, 2010).
Additionally, the shipping and transportation companies are not only viable targets for theft but also potential conveyors for dangerous chemicals, explosives and food. Therefore, its new methods of security have proven to be a great advantage for the federal governments and its trading partners. Its security devices are a strong deterrent, efficient barriers and well proven, and therefore assist in the prevention of the vicious deeds by all the perpetrators. The company does this by combining heavy duty locking bars with steel so as to construct evident seals. There are other companies which have followed NAVLOCK, and therefore security has continued to be enhanced (Navlock, 2010).
In a bid to ensure that there is security for the containers, the Maritime Safety Committee (MSC) has worked hard to ensure that there is safety in the cargo transportation. It has been working actively with a view of ensuring that the work on containers has a supply chain security, and has a view of ensuring that there is a balance between facilitation of the maritime traffic and enhanced security. The group has taken into account the SAFE Framework of Standards to facilitate and secure global trade. It has continually worked to ensure that cargo security is enhanced as it also ensures that there is movement of cargo. All observers and delegation members have been urged to consult their experts in all security aspects and facilitate the movement of freight containers and that there are closed cargo transport units (IMO, 2010).
The CSI was as a result of the US Customs Department, which was an activity to ensure that there was the reduction of risks associated with the global containerized cargos which were being exploited by terrorists. Over two hundred million containers moved annually among the seaports of the world, and fifty percent of the US imports arrived through cargo containers (Club Security, 2010). The aim of CSI was to place the Customs Inspectors at all the major foreign seaports so that they could pre-screen all the cargo containers before shipping into the US took place. Together with their foreign partners, the Customs officials were given the sole mandate of detecting the potential weapons of mass destruction (WMD) in all bound containers in US. These activities were done in the foreign ports prior to loading onto the ships (Club Security, 2010).
The Customs Authority focused on over twenty major foreign ports, which accounted for over seventy percent of all the US bound cargo containers. When CSI was launched, its initial goal was to ensure that its operations could spread to the top twenty ports in the US. At first, eleven of the others agreed to participate in the CSI objectives (Club Security, 2010). Afterwards, other ports followed cue, after realizing that it was effective as far as cargo security was concerned. In the middle of 2002, the World Customs Organization (WCO) passed a resolution, that it would enable all ports in one hundred and sixty one member nations to develop programs using the laid down CSI principles. This included electronic collection of data on the shipments of the containers and to use the risk management tools so as to target and identify high risk shipments. Also, they used large scale technology and radiation detections to identify containers that are security threats (Club Security, 2010).
How CSI works
CSI uses several procedures and methods to accomplish its goals. It employed automated information so as to identify high risk containers. Additionally, it was involved in prescreening high risk containers before they arrived in the US ports. It also used new technology so as to prescreen high risk containers and “smarter” proof containers to ensure that security was enhanced. Due to the effectiveness of the CSI, several international ports have joined the program. These include the ports in Singapore, France, Canada, Belgium, UK, China, Japan, Italy and Germany (Club Security, 2010).
Organizations that Support CSI
There are international organizations that support CSI. Some of these include Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC), European Commission (EC), Business Anti- Smuggling Coalition (BASC) and World Customs Organization (WCO).In addition to CSI, the International trade community developed several initiatives that address the maritime security issue. This included the G-8, which gave out statements on cooperative action on security of transport (Club Security, 2010). WCO made an initiative of providing a restitution of trade facilitation and supply chain security. It also re-examined its data model and developed guidelines for electronic data transmission, as well as guidelines for customs for cooperative arrangements which were similar to the C-TPAT program. The APEC includes nations of both sides of the Pacific. APEC signed the resolutions of the UN security conventions and resolutions so as to suppress international terrorism and be committed to counter terrorism. The goal of this was to ensure that trade was secured in the APEC region through protecting ships, people, aviation and cargo (Club Security, 2010).
BASC was started in 1995 where it worked with industry and business so as to eliminate drug barons using legitimate cargo to smuggle illegal drugs as well as examine supply chains to prevent commercial processes from being used by all the smugglers. WCO, ICC and the US customs backed this. Another organization is referred to as TAPA, which means Technology Asset Protection Association .TAPA is now working on the anti-terrorism standards, in addition to the insurance and the theft issues (Club Security, 2010).
Maritime scanning of containers has continued to be effective; in that there is a plan which has been set by the US bound maritime containers, which is to be effective by 2012. This plan is that there will be one hundred percent scanning of containers at all foreign ports. However, there are some concerns about the member states of the commission in regard to potential costs involved, security benefits competition and the negative impact on the transatlantic trade flows. The EU is also against the scanning, as it would create a disproportionate economic burden without having proven benefits of security. It advocates for an alternative approach which would be based on a system of multilayered risk management (Europa, 2010).
Eligibility requirements of joining CSI
There are certain standards that a candidate willing to join CSI must adhere to. First, the Customs Administration has to have the ability of inspecting all the cargo that exits, originates, transits or is being transshipped through a country. Non-intrusive inspection is also another requirement, where the countries willing to be CSI members must have this equipment, which includes X-ray or gamma imaging capabilities, or any other form of radiation detection equipment (Hinkelman, 2005). The aim of these equipments is to ensure that all the containers are quickly screened without having to interrupt the legitimate flow trade. The seaport of the countries willing to join must have direct, regular and substantial container traffic to the ports based in the United States. These ports must also be willing to commit themselves in establishing risk management systems which are solely meant to identify automating systems of high risk containers (Hinkelman, 2005).
This system should have a mechanism of validating all the threat assessments as well as targeting the decisions and identifying all the decisions that seem safe. All the ports that wish to join the CSI must also commit themselves to sharing risk management and intelligence information as well as critical data with the Customs and Border protection Company of the US, so as to enhance collaborative targeting. Additionally, it will enhance collaborative targeting and the development of an automated mechanism for the exchanges. They are also supposed to conduct a thorough port assessment so as to ascertain vulnerable links in the infrastructure of a port as well as commit to resolve the vulnerabilities. They maintain integrity programs so as to prevent lapses in the integrity of the employees and combat or identify breaches in integrity (Hinkelman, 2005).
Benefits of the CSI ports
The CSI is a good deterrent to the organizations of terrorism that may seek to target some foreign ports. CSI provides some significant security measures for the ports that participate and the United Stated as well. It also provides better security for the world trading systems. If the terrorists were to carry out attacks on the seaport using the cargo containers, all activities would be put into a halt until the security of the region is improved. The seaports that participate in the CSI are also advantaged as they can handle all sorts of containerized cargo than the other ports which do not participate. All in all, CSI as an insurance policy is meant to act as a deterrent to all terrorist attacks (Hinkelman, 2005).
Economic advantages of Ports participating in the CSI
The economic advantages fall into very many categories .The first one is that the ports enjoy non- intrusive inspection of all their containers as well as expedited clearance in the ports located in the US. This is quite an advantage because the integrity of the shipment will be ensured in better terms by all the pre-arrival information (Hinkelman, 2005). Additionally, the non- intrusive inspection equipment at the foreign port locations will assist in the process. Incase of terrorist attacks in the ports, the CSI ports would not be greatly disrupted because of the CSI mechanisms that have been put in place, and therefore would have a competitive advantage. Thirdly, the requirement of the CSI ports is that all the goods that are meant to be shipped to the US from other international partners have to get through the CSI inspection. This means that even if the trading partners do no participate in the CSI, they will have to make sure that their containers pass through the CSI inspection, as long as they are trading with the US. This gives additional costs to all their shipments, and therefore they prefer to be CSI members’ so as to lessen the shipment costs (Hinkelman, 2005).
CSI is not a trade barrier
There has been a controversy in regard to whether CSI is a trade barrier or not. Some experts feel that it is, and that it would finally lead to terrorist attacks using shipping containers that would bring trade to a halt. Consensus opinions state that the CSI is not different from security measures at the airports which are meant to protect individual passengers, crew and aircraft. It is seen as one of the costs incurred as the people trade in business. However, the CSI officials refute to this fact and argue that the sole aim of CSI is to maintain security. It maintains that high risk containers will be inspected, the arguments brought up not withstanding. It is devoted to ensure that all the containers are screened before they depart to the US ports, but not when they arrive at the US ports. This ensures that there are no security risks involved (Hinkelman, 2005).
The CSI Process
In the CSI program, there are some officers who are deployed so as to work with all the host nations’ counterparts. They work collectively so as to ensure that all the containers that pose potential threats for terrorism are curbed. Its purpose is to ensure that containerized shipping is protected from al forms of exploitation by terrorists. Around two thirds of the containers in the US arrive by sea. They come from the first twenty largest ports in the world. The sharing of information between the Custom Services and the US enhances the ability of the services to identify all the containers that may pose danger to the US. The collaboration of the countries is indeed a good step as it helps to achieve greater security for maritime shipping, unlike when the US works single-handedly (Hinkelman, 2005).
CSI does not Delay goods Flow
CSI does not in any way delay the transport of containers. The containers typically sit on the piers for many days as they wait to be exported. CSI targets the containers and screen them before they depart to the US. As the CSI does its work, the local customs officials also take advantage of the situation and clear off the goods .The CSI process is even an advantage to the low- risk containers and cargo as they become more efficient. They are also pre-screened in the process (Hinkelman, 2005).
Conclusion
Indeed, CSI has proved to be a great help to the US government as far as shipment of goods is concerned. Though there has not been a complete stop to the activities that threaten the security of the US, the CSI initiative has been a good measure as it means that there is more security as far as maritime activities are concerned. Besides, the countries that participate in the CSI program are at an advantage, because if they do not participate in the CSI, they are usually forced to pass through the CSI ports for inspection. This is because all the containers being transported to the US have to pass through the CSI. All in all, the CSI has proved to be advantageous.
References
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