Transpacific operator commits to self-assessments of supply chain security under U.S. government program
Santa Ana, CA — April 19, 2004 — U.S. Lines (USL), one of the key operators in the Transpacific trade, has become a fully certified carrier by U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) in the Customs-Trade Partnership Against Terrorism (C-TPAT) program.
C-TPAT is a joint government and business initiative designed to build cooperative relationships that strengthen overall supply chains and border security.
Through this initiative, CBP is asking ocean carriers, brokers, importers, warehouse operators and manufacturers to voluntarily ensure the integrity of their security practices and the subsequent communication of their security guidelines to the business partners within the supply chain.
USL said in a statement that, as part of the C-TPAT certification, the operator has committed to conduct ongoing self-assessments of its supply chain security using the C-TPAT guidelines that were jointly developed by CBP and the trade community.
The C-TPAT certification guidelines state that USL must work with all its trading partners and customers to ensure that proper security measures and procedures are in place to protect the flow of cargo moving into the United States.
"Our No. 1 goal in applying for C-TPAT certification is ensuring that our customers, our staff and our fellow citizens stay safe," said Robert Beilin, senior vice president of operating services at USL. "We have a big responsibility as an ocean carrier to make certain that nothing harmful or illegal is transported on one of our ships or in one of our containers, and we believe that following the C-TPAT guidelines is one of the best ways to do so."
Beilin also noted that being C-TPAT certified means his customers can access their cargo quicker. "According to Custom's C-TPAT director, Robert Perez, non-C-TPAT companies are twice as likely to have their cargo stopped for inspection than participants," Beilin said. "This is obviously very important to us and our customers."
USL operates a fixed-day, weekly service between Shekou, China; Hong Kong; and Long Beach, Calif.
For more information on C-TPAT and solutions for supply chain security, see "Building the Secure Supply Chain," the Net Best Thing article in the June/July 2003 issue of iSource Business.
