The UK Freight Transport Association says the US Government must co-operate with its international trading partners to develop a maritime security regime that both delivers a high level of security but also, wherever possible, facilitates legitimate international trade.
Speaking to an audience of leading US shippers and security experts at the Monterey Seminar, Garry Mansell, vice chairman of the FTA's Shippers' Council, said that the UK is standing shoulder to shoulder with the US in the war against terrorism and that UK shippers share their American colleagues' desire to see a high standard of container security introduced. However, the US cannot do this alone, but must work with other countries (that are also likely terrorists targets) to develop a security system that could be applied globally, Mr Mansell said.
Noting the IMO meeting that discussed the US proposals, Mr Mansell observed that many of the main trading partners of the US have faced threats from terrorists for many years, and went on to say that the US should work with its allies to ensure the introduction of a global container security system.
He said: "In the UK for example, we have a security system for air cargo that has successfully operated for several years. It has both ensured high levels of security while also seeking to facilitate legitimate trade. There is much that the US can learn from such existing security programmes, and we consequently urge the US authorities to seek to work with other governments to ensure that their eventual security systems successfully integrate with proven security systems in operation elsewhere in the world."
