Opinion

Container Security: Is the Layered Approach Working?

Guest columnist Jim Giermanski says the government's five-layered approach to container security is on the right track, but needs significant improvements

By James Giermanski

Identify high-risk containers. CBP uses automated targeting tools to identify containers that pose a potential risk for terrorism, based on advance information and strategic intelligence.

Prescreen and evaluate containers before they are shipped. Containers are screened as early in the supply chain as possible, generally at the port of departure.

Use technology to prescreen high-risk containers to ensure that screening can be done rapidly without slowing down the movement of trade.

Through CSI, CBP officers work with host customs administrations to establish security criteria for identifying high-risk containers. Those administrations use non-intrusive inspection (NII) and radiation detection technology to screen high-risk containers before they are shipped to U.S. ports. CSI, as a reciprocal program, also offers its participant countries the opportunity to send their customs officers to major U.S. ports to target ocean-going, containerized cargo to be exported to their countries. Likewise, CBP shares information on a bilateral basis with its CSI partners. Japan and Canada currently station their customs personnel in some U.S. ports as part of the CSI program.

However, the CSI program is anchored in the 24-hour manifest rule. CBP officers are only allowed to physically inspect containers in the participating foreign country ports when authorized to do so by that nation's customs authorities. The CSI program is more dependent on data acquisition and analysis.

There is a link between CSI and SFI, but not an extensive one. First, SFI is a scanning project composed of radiation portal monitors to detect radiation through NII (non-intrusive inspection) imaging systems. NII is really intended for small package imaging and border crossing functions. The Secure Freight Initiative is active at only three ports at full capacity: Puerto Cortes, Honduras; Port Qasim, Pakistan; and Southampton, United Kingdom as opposed to the 58 foreign ports participating in CSI. It was active in a limited capacity at Busan, Korea; Singapore; Port of Salalah, Oman; and Hong Kong. However, because there are significant problems with the SFI project, further deployment of machines is being reviewed due to recent lessons learned as revealed by CBP Deputy Commissioner Jayson Ahern in his April 2 statement. Ahern specifically cited 13 problem areas with SFI.

Essentially, CSI like other layers is really anchored in data flow. Its validity is only as good as the accuracy of the data submitted. SFI is similar but slightly different. It's only as good as its operators and the sophistication of its technology. According to the trade community, it is inefficient and according to scientists, SFI is 100 percent ineffective for highly enriched, shielded uranium. The technology is still being developed. The project is limited in scope, and there is serious discussion about its acceptance and application around the world. In June, 2008 the WCO called for the repeal of a U.S. law requiring all inbound maritime cargo containers to be scanned at foreign ports by July 1, 2012. And on June 11 in a report to Congress, DHS released all of the lessons learned from the SFI operational ports. In light of what the report revealed, it is doubtful if the SFI will continue, given its level and sophistication of its development and technology and the objections of the other trading nations.

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