The US Department of Homeland Security delays the 100% cargo scanning
of US bound maritime cargo containers.
As the US Department of Homeland Security (DHS) continues to
embrace a risk-based approach towards securing US supply chains, a second 100%
cargo scanning mandate appears to be delayed.
The first delay was that of air cargo scanning. The scanning
of air cargo was scheduled to begin the end of last year; however, a number of
airlines responded that meeting the deadline of Dec. 31, 2011 would cause
"significant disruptions in the air cargo supply chain”. The agency also
noted the difficulty in verifying the accuracy of self-reporting screening data
from passenger air carriers as well as there were no requirements for all-cargo
carriers to report data comparable to passenger air carrier screening data. The
DHS responded by suggesting a new compliance deadline of December 2012.
The second 100% cargo screening mandate delay appears to be
that for maritime cargo containers. A US congressional committee recently approved
a bill that would reauthorize key provisions from the SAFE Port Act supply
chain security law. Among the provisions include reductions in redundancies
that allow the DHS to recognize other countries’ trusted-shipper programs. However, the committee did not take up a
measure to strike a 9/11 Commission recommendation to scan all US-bound
maritime cargo containers prior to loading overseas. As such the mandate was scheduled
to take effect July 1.
The 100% scanning of US-bound containers has been opposed by
many industry associations including the National Retail Federation (NRF) which
issued the following statement: “We do not believe the ‘scan-all’ requirement
improves supply chain security,” NRF said. “As the US Customs Border Patrol and
Protection has indicated in several congressional reports, there have been
continued technological problems, significant costs, resistance from foreign
governments and delays at some ports.”
As such the DHS announced it would delay the cargo scanning
requirement until 2014. According to the agency, expanding checks at
international seaports would be expensive and cumbersome to implement from a
diplomatic, administrative and technical standpoint. The full cost of coming
into full compliance with the law varies, with estimates ranging from $200m to
$16bn. A spokesman for the DHS stated the department "continues to work
collaboratively with industry, federal partners, and the international
community to expand these programs and our capability to detect, analyze, and
report on nuclear and radiological materials.”
It is estimated that about 5% of all cargo containers headed
to the US are screened. The DHS’ risk-based approach for screening of cargo
calls for extra scrutiny on freight imported from 58 of the most active
international shipping hubs such as Dubai and Hong Kong.
The DHS and CBP
adopted its risk-based approach towards securing supply chains after both cargo
screening mandates were approved by the US Congress. It appears the agencies
will need to work more closely with the US government in outlining its ideas
for security improvements while at the same time working with international
governments and agencies for a unified approach to maintaining safe and secure
global supply chains.
