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Is container security a global challenge or a business opportunity?
SINCE THE CONTAINER SECURITY INITIATIVE (CSI), was unveiled in 2002, countries with 9 19 of the world's 20 largest ports have joined with U.S. Customs to enhance the security of the world's maritime trading system. CSI is also expanding to strategic locations beyond the 20 initial major ports. In December 2003, the U.S. Bureau of Customs and Border Protection published the final rules requiring advance manifest information for screening and those rules went into effect on January 5,2004.
This new reality has profound implications, especially when you consider that 90 percent of the world's cargo moves by container, with 46 percent of all U.S. imports arriving by ocean-going cargo containers. While the CSI does present some significant business challenges, companies that get compliance right could benefit from improved inventory control, reduced administration costs, and a secure supply chain. Existing global logistics management software and emerging technologies such as radio frequency identification (RFID) may hold the key.
Strictly speaking, an CSI is the umbrella term for security initiatives such as the Customs-Trade Partnership Against Terrorism (C-TPAT), the 24-hour rule, and CSI itself. CSI proper is the specific port-to-port shipping element, and C-TPAT is the Customs-to-business element. The four key elements of CSI are: identifying high-risk containers; pre-screening containers before they are shipped; using technology to pre-screen high-risk containers; and using smarter, more secure containers.