Flashback - December 13, 2004: Dubai, U.A.E., Joins U.S. Container Security Initiative (State Dept.)

US Department of State ^ | December 13. 2004

[new yorker 77]

Becomes first Mideast port to participate in U.S. program

The United Arab Emirates has joined the U.S. Container Security Initiative (CSI) to help secure maritime cargo shipments against the threat of terrorism.

In a December 12 news release, the U.S. Customs and Border Protection agency (CBP) said the agreement will enable all cargo destined for the United States through the port of Dubai to be prescreened.

CBP will station a small team of officers at Dubai ports to identify sea containers destined for the United States; Dubai customs officials will be responsible for screening containers identified as potential terrorist risks, the U.S. agency said.

Dubai Ports, Customs and Free Zone Corporation is the sixth-largest port operator in the world and the first in the Middle East to join the CSI, according to the news release.

To date, governments representing 21 countries around the world have signed up to the CSI program, launched by the United States following the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001.

Following is the text of the news release:

(begin text)

U.S. Customs and Border Protection Department of Homeland Security

First Middle Eastern Port Formally Commits to Target, Pre-Screen and Secure Cargo Destined for the U.S.

12/12/2004

Dubai, UAE -- Today Dubai Ports, Customs and Free Zone Corporation joined the U.S. Customs and Border Protection's (CBP) Container Security Initiative [CSI] making it the first Middle Eastern port to participate. CBP Commissioner Robert C. Bonner and Sultan Ahmed bin Sulayem, Executive Chairman of the Ports, Customs and Free Zone Corporation, signed a declaration of principles to acknowledge the agreement that will enable all cargo destined for the U.S. through the port of Dubai to be targeted and pre-screened.

"The threat of terrorism is real and, it's a global threat. Dubai Customs recognizes the absolute importance of protecting cargo against the terrorist threat. I applaud their bold action of assuming a leadership role in the Middle East," said Commissioner Bonner.

CBP will deploy a small team of officers to the port of Dubai, the 6th largest port operator in the world whose mission will be to target sea containers destined for the United States. Dubai Customs officials, working with CBP officers, will be responsible for screening any containers identified as a potential terrorist threat.

The primary purpose of CSI is to help protect the global trading system and the trade routes between CSI ports and the United States. By collaborating with foreign customs administrations, CBP is working towards a safer, more secure world trading system.

Under CSI, CBP has entered into bi-lateral partnerships with other governments to identify high-risk cargo containers and to pre-screen them before they are loaded on vessels destined for the United States. Today, governments representing 21 countries have signed up to implement CSI.

"I congratulate the Dubai Ports, Customs and Free Zone Corporation on this historic event. They are now partnering with the United States and are a leader in protecting the global trading system," said Ambassador to the UAE [United Arab Emirates] Michele Sison.

CSI did not exist before 9/ll. It was proposed by Commissioner Bonner and launched in January 2002. CSI has been accepted globally as a bold and revolutionary initiative to secure maritime cargo shipments against the terrorist threat. This initiative will continue to expand to strategic locations around the world.

The World Customs Organization (WCO), the European Union (EU), and the G8 [Group of Eight major industrialized economies] support CSI expansion and have adopted resolutions implementing CSI security measures introduced at ports throughout the world.

The 32 operational ports in Europe, Asia, Africa, and North America include: Halifax, Montreal, and Vancouver, Canada; Rotterdam, The Netherlands; Le Havre, France; Bremerhaven and Hamburg, Germany; Antwerp and Zeebrugge, Belgium; Singapore; Yokohama, Tokyo, Nagoya, and Kobe, Japan; Hong Kong; Goteborg, Sweden; Felixstowe, Liverpool, Southampton, Thamesport, and Tilbury, United Kingdom; Genoa, La Spezia, Naples, and Gioia Tauro, Italy; Busan, Korea; Durban, South Africa; Port Klang and Tanjung Pelepas, Malaysia; Piraeus, Greece; Algeciras, Spain; and Laem Chabang, Thailand.

U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) is the agency within the Department of Homeland Security charged with the protection of our nation's borders. CBP unified Customs, Immigration, and Agriculture Inspectors and the Border Patrol into one border agency for the United States.

(end text)

(Distributed by the Bureau of International Information Programs, U.S. Department of State. Web site: http://usinfo.state.gov)

[Indy Pendance]

This poster has a lot of interesting first hand info. He worked in the industry for over 10 years. Read his stuff, really informative.

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/user-posts?id=19076

[onyx]

Thank you for your thoughtful comments. You have made my day!

[McGavin999]

It's the One Percenters onyx. They become rabid on a regular basis. They seem to hijack the forum any time there is even the smallest excuse to bash the president.

[Miss Marple]

I've been through enough of these Bush-bashing frenzies that I am immune. I can spot a hot topic for Bush bashing when I listen to the radio. Lately, I don't bother to engage. It's pointless, like arguing with a pig.

Well, I am certain the President knows what he is doing, unlike the glorified shipping clerks in the White House press corps, the cowardly Congress, the opportunistic pundits, and the useless posters wasting bandwidth here on FR. I support the guy I voted for, and I cannot imagine he would do anything that would risk the nation's security.

[new yorker 77]

I have heard that no US Company bid on this contract.

If this is true, How can we complain about the lack of US management control over these ports if no US company is willing to even bid on controlling authority?

[Indy Pendance]

I've known you guys for years, and likewise. I just usually read, because what I was going to say has usually been posted. I get in my posting modes now and then so you all can 'fawn' over my prose... :)

[onyx]

Yes, the very same ones, but this time, even some others have surprised me. Disgusted me too.

I love liblieslayer's comments above. Have a look.

[McGavin999]

AH, that's their line. They seem totally unaware that most of our supplies for the military have been going through Dubai for years now.

They can't quite grasp the fact that the British company that has had the contract for years has been bought out, which means that the employees will simply move over into the new company and continue doing the job they've been doing for years.

[mystery-ak]

Some enterprising reporter ought to ask the Australian government how things are going at Melbourne, where DP operates the port there.

The Aussies are our buddies in Iraq and they certainly have their own muslim concerns in Indonesia and domestically. So what's their experience been?

I don't think a reporter will do that story, though, because the ports story is basically a bash-Bush opportunity.




Worth repeating

[onyx]

I love your mind, Miss Marple. It's beautiful. Thanks for your comments.

[Miss Marple]

Yes, and then she got huffy because the Dubai shipping company had been watching the show and refused to be interviewed until Fox reported the truth! I had to laugh...probably not a smart PR move by Dubai but it was quite amusing to see her all flabbergasted that someone would call them on their reporting. HA!

[Howlin]

Ahem:

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1583067/posts

[onyx]

LOL! Go for it! I'll be back right after my hot bath.

[Miss Marple]

I vote for the Chinese causing trouble. Apparently this company has very good relations with the longshoreman's union.

[Mike Darancette]

I guess no one cares about CSI, the Container Security Initiative.

I would imagine that Dubai Ports World was made to jump through hoops to get DHS approval for this deal. I think that if DPW actually gets the deal their terminals will be among the most secure with the latest state of the art security gear.

DPW will be thoroughly scrutinized.

[new yorker 77]

Some reporter should find out if a US Company put in a bid to buy this portion of the British Company P&O.

There was open bidding and no US takers.

It was a fight between Singapore and Dubai.

If Singapore won, no one would care, but the premise of fear over foreign control would still be there.

[McGavin999]

You'll get used to it. These people crawl out of the woodwork at any opportunity to smash President Bush. They think that if they turn off enough republican, they might get more than 1% in the next election. They're loud, they post a LOT and have a LOT of screen names.

Just keep on with the logic and sooner or later they get tired.

[Indy Pendance]

There is no US company to do it, hasn't been for years. P&O is the last british company.

[A Citizen Reporter]

"Actually, I think this all has something to do with the unions.

Somebody already did. A.Hun.

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Check out this labor circular from 2002. I found it on labournet..

Seems to outline this fight over ports towards the end of the page.

http://www.labournet.net/docks2/0206/itf1.htm

137 posted on 02/21/2006 12:43:32 PM CST by A.Hun (Common sense is no longer common.)

_--------------------------------------------------------

Here is the part I found interesting:

"16. Unfortunately, in too many countries the interpretation of modernization of management, labour and industrial relations differs from our view. Privatisation and competition for example are being used to justify fierce attacks on trade unions and its leadership. As a result union busting has become a very negative trend in the port industry;

[McGavin999]

Does the Chinese company hold the port contracts on the west coast?