see also: in October 2004:   Container Security Initiative Port of Gioia Tauro, Italy Becomes 31st Operational Port   CBP Border Patrol Agents Intercept Large Cache of Drugs   U.S. Customs and Border Protection Dedicates New Border Patrol Academy in New Mexico   Annual Trade Symposium Rescheduled for January 2005   U.S. Customs and Border Protection Establishes Attaché Program   Samenfink Heads Customs and Border Protection's Modernization Office ...more on cbp.gov:   CBP News Releases   Press Officers

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Washington — U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) Commissioner Robert C. Bonner and United Kingdom Paymaster General and Customs Minister, Dawn Primarolo announced today that the ports of Liverpool, Southampton, Thamesport, and Tilbury in the United Kingdom are ready to start CSI operations. During mid-October, CSI will be in a "Procedural Development (testing) Phase” and will be fully operational on November 1, 2004.

“The primary purpose of CSI is to protect the global trading system and the trade lanes between CSI ports and the U.S. By expanding CSI to the ports of Liverpool, Southampton, Thamesport, and Tilbury, the government of the United Kingdom is helping to make a safer, more secure world trading system,” Commissioner Bonner said.

United Kingdom Customs officials, working side by side with CBP officers, are responsible for screening any containers identified as a potential terrorist risk. CBP and the United Kingdom signed a CSI declaration of principles on December 9, 2002. The CSI port of Felixstowe became operational on May 24, 2003. U.S. Customs and Border Protection deployed a team of CBP officers to the port of Felixstowe to target cargo containers that pose a potential risk for terrorism destined for the United States.

CSI is now operational in 30 ports in Europe, Asia, Africa, and North America. The operational ports include: Halifax, Montreal, and Vancouver, Canada; Rotterdam, The Netherlands; Le Havre, France; Bremerhaven and Hamburg, Germany; Antwerp, Belgium; Singapore; Yokohama, Tokyo, Nagoya and Kobe, Japan; Hong Kong; Göteborg, Sweden; Felixstowe, Liverpool, Southampton, Thamesport, and Tilbury, United Kingdom; Genoa, La Spezia, and Naples, Italy; Busan, Korea; Durban, South Africa; Port Klang and Tanjung Pelepas, Malaysia; Piraeus, Greece; Algeciras, Spain; Laem Chabang, Thailand.

The 30 ports represent the world’s major seaports. The CSI network will expand even farther. CSI will be expanding to strategic locations that ship substantial amounts of cargo to the United States, and that have the infrastructure and technology in place to participate in the program.

United Kingdom Paymaster General and Customs Minister, Dawn Primarolo said: “By implementing the CSI in a further four UK ports, Customs demonstrates commitment in the fight against terrorism. We will continue to share intelligence and co-operate with our partners overseas to prevent suspect material from falling into the hands of terrorists.”

CSI was proposed by Commissioner Bonner and launched in January 2002. CSI has been accepted globally as a bold and revolutionary initiative to secure maritime cargo shipments against the terrorist threat.

Before 9/11, the Container Security Initiative did not exist and there was no program that permitted inspection of high-risk containers destined for the U.S. before they left the foreign ports of embarkation or transshipment.

CSI is the only multinational program in existence in the world today that is actually protecting global trade lanes by preventing containerized shipping from being exploited and disrupted by international terrorists.

CSI not only adds security to the movement of cargo containers, but because the targeting, and if necessary, inspection, occurs at outbound ports, rather than at the ports of arrival, the containers move faster and more efficiently through the supply chain.

The World Customs Organization and the G8 have supported CSI expansion through their adoption of resolutions that support the implementation of the security measures introduced by CSI at ports throughout the world. On April 22, 2004, the European Union and the Department of Homeland Security signed an agreement committing both parties to further cooperate on CSI and related matters.

Non-Intrusive Inspection (NII) technology allows the screening of a larger portion of commercial traffic in less time. This enables targeting containers that pose a potential risk for terrorism while facilitating legitimate trade. Customs officers use large-scale gamma ray and x-ray imaging systems to safely and efficiently screen conveyances for contraband, including weapons of mass destruction. These units can scan the interior of a full-size 40-foot container in under a minute.

As part of CSI, officers also use radiation detection devices to scan for signs of radioactive materials. If necessary, containers are opened and unloaded by the host government Customs service for a more intensive manual inspection. CSI officers observe this manual inspection.

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.