Israel Begins CSI Cargo Security Operations At Port Of Ashdod

The port of Ashdod became the 54th operational Container Security Initiative. The initiative seeks to identify high-risk containers and prescreen and evaluate containers
 
U.S. Customs and Border Protection announced last week that the port of Ashdod became the 54th operational Container Security Initiative port to target and pre-screen maritime cargo containers destined for U.S. ports.
 
CBP and Israel’s Customs Directorate cosigned the Declaration of Principles to bring CBP’s Container Security Initiative to the ports of Ashdod and Haifa on March 26th. The initiative seeks to: (1) identify high-risk containers; (2) prescreen and evaluate containers before they are shipped; and (3) use technology to prescreen high-risk containers to ensure that screening can be done rapidly without slowing down the movement of trade.
 
Mr. Shuki Sagis the port director general said that the port was proud to be the first Israeli port to take part in the security initiative which improves the level of services that the port provides to its clients in general and to the Israeli exporters in particular.
 
CSI addresses the threat to border security and global trade posed by the potential for terrorist use of a maritime container to deliver a weapon.
 
CSI proposes a security regime to ensure all containers that pose a potential risk for terrorism are identified and inspected at foreign ports before they are placed on vessels destined for the U.S.