Representative from CBP is to address delegates at TOC Asia 2008

Richard DiNucci, Acting Director, Secure Freight Initiative Office, US Customs and Border Protection (CBP), has confirmed his participation in TOC Asia 2008, to be held in Shanghai from 18-20 March 2008. He will give conference delegates an overview of the US Secure Freight Initiative (SFI) during the session Container security - Meeting next generation demands' in the morning of the second day.

Mr DiNucci's presentation will include an update about progress being made towards the 9/11 Commission Act requirement for 100 per cent scanning of all US-bound cargo by July 2012. In October 2007, the US Department of Homeland Security started a test run to scan every single container destined for the US from a number of ports around the world, the majority being in Asia and the Middle East. This scanning information is being automatically integrated into the US Automated Targeting System (ATS) to improve the ability to assess risks. Mr DiNucci will explain the procedures involved for the ports taking part in this trial and how well the system is working.

He will furthermore discuss the long-awaited proposal on the Advance Trade Data Initiative 10+2, which was published in early January 2008. This proposal requires both importers and carriers to submit additional information about all cargo to be shipped to the United States to CBP. At least 24 hours prior to loading of the cargo onto a vessel bound for the US, importers will have to file ten sets of data for CBP, and carriers will have to file an additional two sets. The purpose of the new rule is to better evaluate the potential risk of smuggling weapons of mass destruction using ocean-going cargo containers before goods are loaded on vessels en route the US.

The challenges arising from these new requirements fit well into the overall theme of this year's TOC Asia: The Challenges of Scale - Coping with Cascading Growth, as today's mega ports face the challenge of handling vessels able to transport much more than 8,000 TEU. However, it also needs to be recognised that existing large panamax and even post-panamax vessels are now being deployed in intra-regional routes, putting additional strain on smaller ports that were not designed to cope with such volumes.

This cascade effect has serious management and technical implications for all ports: whether regional hubs, medium sized feeder ports or smaller gateways. These issues will be discussed by top-level representatives of the industry, such as Kim Gadegaard, Vice President, Greater China Area, APM Terminals; Larry Lam, Managing Director, Portek International Ltd; and S N Srikanth, Partner, Hauers Associates.

Source:Transportweekly