16 December 2005
Portugal Implements Cargo Container Security Initiative
Lisbon is among 42 ports worldwide to operate CSI screening program
Lisbon, Portugal, has become the latest port to implement the Container Security Initiative (CSI), a screening and inspection program aimed at securing maritime cargo shipments against the threat of terrorism.
Lisbon is the 42nd port worldwide -- and the 21st European port -- to implement the initiative, according to a joint announcement December 14 by U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) acting Commissioner Deborah J. Spero and Portugal Director-General for Customs and Excise Ana Maria Jordão.
CBP and the government of Portugal signed the declaration of principles on the initiative in July 7. (See related article.)
Under the security initiative, CBP officers work in partnership with Portuguese customs officials to screen cargo containers headed for the United States that are identified as a potential terrorist risk.
To date, 25 customs administrations have committed to join CSI and are at various stages of implementation, according to CBP.
The CSI-operational ports in Europe are: Antwerp and Zeebrugge, Belgium; Le Havre and Marseilles, France; Bremerhaven and Hamburg, Germany; Piraeus, Greece; Genoa, La Spezia, Naples, Gioia Tauro and Livorno, Italy; Rotterdam, the Netherlands; Göteborg, Sweden; Algeciras, Spain; and Felixstowe, Liverpool, Southampton, Thamesport and Tilbury, United Kingdom.
In addition to Europe, there are CSI-operational ports in Asia, Africa, the Middle East and North America.
Following is a statement by U.S. Customs and Border Protection:
(begin text)
U.S. Department of Homeland Security
U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP)
December 14, 2005
U.S. CONTAINER SECURITY INITIATIVE ADDS LISBON, PORTUGAL AS THE 42ND OPERATIONAL PORT
Washington, D.C. - Today, U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) Acting Commissioner Deborah J. Spero and Director-General for Customs and Excise Ana Maria Jordão of Portugal announced the Port of Lisbon as the 42nd operational Container Security Initiative (CSI) port to target and pre-screen maritime cargo containers destined for U.S. ports.
CBP and the government of Portugal signed the declaration of principles on July 7, 2005.
"The Container Security Initiative is a deterrent to terrorists seeking to use containerized cargo as a conduit for terrorism within the maritime environment. Having CSI ports, such as the one in Lisbon, is making U.S. borders more secure and more efficient," said Acting Commissioner Spero. "CSI is a way of addressing the threat to global trade making it more secure against terrorist exploitation. CBP will continue to cast out the CSI security blanket to additional foreign ports."
CBP will deploy a team of officers to be stationed at the Port of Lisbon to work with Portuguese Customs Officials to target maritime containers destined for the United States. Portugal's Customs officials, working with CBP officers, will be responsible for screening any containers identified as a potential terrorist risk.
Under the Container Security Initiative, CBP has entered into bilateral partnerships to identify high-risk maritime cargo containers before they are loaded on vessels destined for the United States. Today, 25 administrations have committed to join CSI and are at various stages of implementation.
"When first initiated, CSI was a revolutionary idea- to engage foreign governments to work with us to secure and protect trade lanes from foreign seaports to the U.S., " Acting Commissioner Spero said.
Now CSI is an accepted model of international cooperation to protect the global supply chain against terrorism. CBP's goal is to have 50 operational CSI ports by the end of 2006. At that time, approximately 90 percent of all transatlantic and transpacific cargo imported into the United States will be subjected to pre-screening.
CSI will continue to expand the strategic locations around the world. The World Customs Organization (WCO), the European Union (EU), and the G8, support CSI expansion and have adopted resolutions implementing CSI security measures introduced at ports throughout the world.
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U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) is the unified border agency within the Department of Homeland Security charged with the management, control, and protection of our Nation's borders at and between the official ports of entry. CBP is charged with keeping terrorists and terrorist weapons out of the country while enforcing hundreds of U.S. laws.
(end text)
(Distributed by the Bureau of International Information Programs, U.S. Department of State. Web site: http://usinfo.state.gov)
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