Prince Rupert starts harmonized cargo screening

VANCOUVER, BRITISH COLUMBIA—A pilot project at the Port of Prince Rupert is the first marine implementation of a Canada-US security agreement.

Under the Integrated Cargo Security Strategy, any cargo arriving from off-shore only needs to be screened once at its initial port of arrival. After it has been cleared, the shipment is free to move across the US-Canada border without the need for further security screenings. The program is part of the Beyond the Border Action plan signed by prime minister Stephen Harper and president Barack Obama.

Although officially launched yesterday, the cleared-once, accepted-twice program has been underway at the port since the beginning of October. Canadian and US officials, including the minister of international trade, Ed Fast, and the deputy chief of mission from the US Embassy, Jim Nealon, and the US consul general, Anne Callaghan, were at the port for the ceremony.

“The pilots that will be implemented under the Integrated Cargo Security Strategy are key to the ongoing efforts to facilitate legitimate trade while still maintaining our security mission at the border,” said US counsel general Anne Callaghan. “Harmonization of the cargo screening processes between the United States and Canada should result in a more efficient and secured supply chain and increased competitive economic posture.”

Prince Rupert’s pilot project is the first in the country. Its focus is in-transit cargo destined for transport to the US by rail. The US National Targeting Centre (NTC) conducts a risk-assessment on all in-transit cargo arriving at Prince Rupert and identifies the shipments of highest risk. Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) then performs examinations on behalf of US Customs and Border Protection (US CBP) for security and contraband.

Along with looking for prohibited items, officers will also check for wood packaging and soil infractions.

Any contraband or security concerns are dealt with in Canada and information about the shipment—both images and examination results—are shared by officials on both sides of the border via US-developed IT systems. After passing inspection, containers are secured with high-security bolt seals for transit through Canada to the land border.

Seeing the bolt seals, border officials will know the shipments have been inspected and are safe to pass into the US.