C-TPAT-compliant seals speed up clearance through customs

Ensuring priority clearance through US Customs is top priority for every shipper, which is why there’s growing awareness of the need for genuine C-TPAT compliant security seals for cargo destined for the States. “We are experiencing a surge in demand largely because our products are genuinely C-TPAT compliant,” says Vikela Aluvin MD Kevin Norwitz. “Many other seals on the market do not meet the stringent requirements for tensile strength, shear, bend and impact laid down in the ISO/PAS 17712 document, and nor do they achieve the manufacturing integrity required in the same document,” says Norwitz. The Customs Trade Partnership Against Terrorism (C-TPAT) demands that all maritime cargo containers entering the US are secured with barrier seals that conform to the technical specifications set out in the ISO/PAS 17712 document. Containers fitted with these seals receive priority clearance through US customs. Vikela Aluvin represents EJ Brooks, ITW Envopak and Mega Fortris, three of the world’s largest security sealing manufacturers, giving the Germistonbased company access to a broad spectrum of C-TPAT compliant solutions. These range from mechanical barrier seals to electronic seals for securing intermodal containers, ISO containers and trailers. Two of the company’s most popular high-security container sealing solutions are the Klicker bolt seal and Keeper Sealock cable seal. The Klicker has a highstrength steel pin and bush and is laser-marked on both the bolt and locking chamber for added security. The metal clip is embedded in a groove in the bush, making the seal stronger and more difficult to tamper with. The Keeper Sealock doubles the security of shipments since it secures both container handle and keeper bars and requires two cuts for removal, says Norwitz. “This is an important improvement on current container seals and is now being used on a variety of high-risk containers worldwide.” Also on offer from Vikela Aluvin in conjunction with EJ Brooks are the highsecurity electronic sealing solutions known as E-seals. These bolt seals use satellite and/or GSM technology and allow the user to access immediate information regarding the location and status of the cargo. “E-seals are currently being used successfully in the United States and the Far East, and we are now focusing on South Africa, and then the rest of Africa, because of the seals’ capabilities in remote and high risk areas,” says Norwitz. While C-TPAT requirements and the ISO standard 17712 apply mainly to sea freight containers, Vikela Aluvin offers a wide range of security solutions for airfreight as well.