see also: in September 2004:   Statement: Response by Chief David V. Aguilar on the Drowning of Three Undocumented Migrants   The Container Security Initiative is Operational at the Port of Naples   CBP Border Patrol Agent Saves Two Human Lives   “Trouble” Shares "Top Dog" Award in the "Paws To Recognize - Salute To Canine World Heroes"   U.S. Customs and Border Protection Responds to Mediterranean Fruit Fly Detection in Tijuana   Agents Mourn and Honor the Loss of two of their own   Missing CBP Border Patrol Agents Located ...more on cbp.gov:   CBP News Releases   Press Officers

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Customs and Border Protection Commissioner Robert C. Bonner receives the Maritime Security Lifetime Achievement award in NYC today. Photo Credit: Gerald L Nino

Washington, D.C. – On September 14, at the U.S. Maritime Security Conference in New York City, Commissioner Robert C. Bonner, U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP), was presented with the honor of Maritime Security Lifetime Achievement Award.

Rear Admiral (RET) Richard Larrabee, Director, Port Commerce, Port of New York and New Jersey, presented the award on behalf of the U.S. Merchant Marine Academy, U.S. Maritime Administration, the John Jay College of Criminal Justice, the National Biometic Security Project, the Emergency Interoperability Consortium, and E.J. Krause & Associates.

“This award recognizes 9/11 security measures. In that context, I must thank the men and women of U.S. Customs and Border Protection who have worked with me in achieving this honor," said Commissioner Bonner.

More than 3500 executives and government officials from around the world attended the conference including 800 international government and industry leaders of the maritime and shipping community representing 50 countries.

The award recognizes the range of Commissioner Bonner’s contributions and commitment in leadership in directing CBP’s efforts to push out our borders through programs like the Customs and Trade Partnership against terrorism (C-TPAT) and the Container Security Initiative (CSI).

”Under the leadership of Secretary Ridge, Department of Homeland Security, and in an environment of standing up various sectors of the Department of Homeland Security with CBP being a key element, we applaud Commissioner Bonner in getting results in a relatively short period of time,” said Michael Rosenberg, Vice President, E.J. Krause & Associates. “Commissioner Bonner’s award recognizes the magnitude of this feat given the complexities of developing and implementing programs with other nations – and the length of time it usually takes.”

Commissioner Bonner received the award in the company of another high-level accomplished recipient Peter Struijs, Vice Chairman Executive Board, Port of Rotterdam.

“Let me assure you, we are doing everything we reasonably and responsibly can to carry out that extraordinarily important priority mission,” Commissioner Bonner said. “As U.S. Customs and Border Protection works to carry out its priority antiterrorism mission, and its traditional missions, we have devised ways to do so without choking off the flow of legitimate trade and travel so important to our nation’s economy and our openness as a nation.”

Commissioner Bonner proposed the Customs-Trade Partnership Against Terrorism (C-TPAT) program in November 2001. C-TPAT is a partnership between CBP and the trade community to implement security standards and best practices that better protect the entire supply chain against exploitation by terrorists – from foreign loading docks to our ports of entry. In exchange, companies that meet CBP security standards get the fast lane at and through our borders.

Over 7,000members including importers, carriers, brokers, forwarders, ports and terminals and foreign manufacturers have joined C-TPAT and taken the necessary steps to secure their supply chains. These security enhancement put in place by private sector shippers allows CBP to devote more resources to suspect activities.

Commissioner Bonner also proposed the Container Security Initiative (CSI) and the program was launched in January 2002. Under CSI, CBP has entered into bi-lateral partnerships with other governments to identify high-risk cargo containers and to pre-screen them before they are loaded on vessels destined for the United States.Today, governments representing 18 countries have signed up to implement CSI. CSI is operational in 25 foreign seaports.

The priority mission of U.S. Customs and Border Protection is homeland security. That means detecting and preventing terrorists and terrorist weapons from entering the United States.

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.