Contingencies in place if
war breaks out
Ray Smuts
AS IRAQ stands on the brink of another possible showdown with the West, the George W Bush administration - mindful of further terror acts in the wake of 9/11 - has put in place tougher access measures for exporters.
Firmly entrenched as of February 2 following a two-month period of grace is the “24-hour manifest rule” of which shippers around the world have been apprised to avoid falling foul of US Customs.
As covered at length in FTW, this means that shippers have to advise 24 hours before shipment the exact nature of their cargo. This enables the authorities to evaluate the risk, if any, thereof and at the same time enable the prompt release of legitimate cargo.
Failure to provide the information within the required time frame could result in the delay of a
permit to unload and/or the assessment of civil monetary penalties or claims for liquidated damages.
In Cape Town last week Victor Shieh, Antwerp-based marketing executive for Safmarine, commented. “It is important to note these are not only applicable to exporters shipping to the US but via the US as well”
Shieh said a number of European countries had taken note of the US initiative and were following it with “great interest” though he was not personally aware any were contemplating similar measures - the bottom line being that shippers’ schedules and documentation processes would be affected.
US Customs is placing heavy responsibilities on shippers to provide accurate and timely information and it is clear that in the event of non-compliance they could face severe penalties.
As to Safmarine and sister company Maersk Sealand’s likely course of action in the event of war against Iraq, Shieh said: “We do have processes and policies in place within the A.P. Moller Group.
“The last time there were increased issues about potential hostilities in the Middle East we sent out notices to customers regarding certain ports not receiving calls.
“In the event of war we would have to assess that, but our interests lie firstly in protecting our people and the cargo of our customers and we are in all sectors looking anxiously to developments in Iraq and North Korea.”
Another new measure is the creation of C-TPAT (the Customs-Trade Partnership Against Terrorism) to which selected shipping lines have been invited to apply for “partnership”, Safmarine and Maersk Sealand included.
Said outgoing Safmarine media manager Richard Warnes: “What it boils down to in essence is that shipping lines prepared to co-operate with the US Government are given a certain favoured status; but it does not mean they are exempt from all the other regulations.
“In the case of C-TPAT the US appoints an accounts manager for each line and there is an interchange of ideas and information to avoid or minimise any risk. In the case of Safmarine this is yet another way of reassuring our customers they are dealing with a blue chip carrier.”
Detailed information on the 24-hour advance manifest rule can be accessed on the US Customs web site: www.customs.gov/
impoexpo/24hour rule.pdf or from the Safmarine site www.safmarine.com
Safmarine’s Victor
Shieh... security processes and policies in place with the A.P.Moller Group.
