US box scan a 'challenge'

News was prepared under the information support of Online Daily Newspaper on Hellenic and international Shipping "Hellenic Shipping News".

28 Sep 2007

PSA's chief executive officer for Southeast Asia and Singapore Terminal, Kuah Boon Wee, has called new American security legislation requiring 100% scanning of all US-bound containers a ''challenge'' for the port of Singapore. Speaking at the opening of the 2nd International Maritime - Port Technology and Development Conference (MTEC) in Singapore today, Kuah said that the new laws raised many questions but provided few solutions. Explaining why he felt that Singapore ''faced a challenge ahead'', Kuah said that the questions of ''what do you scan for'' and ''how thorough should the scan be'' were most pertinent. Kuah proceeded to say that the security bill's requirements are not being backed up by underlying information such as specific answers to the questions he mentioned. Known as the 9/11 Commission Recommendations Act, the bill, which among other things mandates that all US-bound containers must be screened at port of shipment, was approved by Congress on July 27 and was signed into law by Bush on August 3. Congressional Democrats have been lauding the bill's passage, but provisions affecting freight and cargo have prompted much criticism from both within and outside the shipping industry amid fears that the law may dramatically impede the flow of commerce. The most controversial aspect of the bill is a mandated 100% scanning of all maritime cargo containers entering the US for nuclear devices by 2012. The measure requires US-bound containers to be screened at foreign ports using ''non-intrusive imaging equipment and radiation detection equipment'' before being loaded. Reports say that X-ray and radiation monitors would most likely be employed to scan the containers, though it is ultimately up to the Homeland Security secretary to set the threshold for the type of equipment that is used. Meanwhile, Singapore's elder statesman Lee Kuan Yew said that Singapore is proposing changes to the planned scanning rules. ''The Americans are proposing the containers are scanned and cleared at the last port of call, which could prove an immense burden on the last port of call,'' Minister Mentor Lee told the inaugural maritime lecture in Singapore. Speaking to top maritime executives from around the globe, Lee said that ''we are counter-proposing to have the responsibility shared right along the line so that the burden is not always on the last port of call.'' He however did not go into detail about how Singapore would like to see the burden spread or what the details of its counter proposal were. ''It is a highly technical business how to detect fissile material,'' Lee said.  He said that unilateral security measures such as this ''will slow down the flow of trade''. ''A balance must be struck between between ensuring security and facilitating trade, if we are to preserve the efficiency of shipping and for cargo operations to flourish,'' he added.100 mln sgd