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Should A Manufacturer join the CCSP Certified Cargo Screening Program?

David Collins — Thu, 06 May 2010 17:00:00 GMT

Later this year August 3rd, 2010, legislation passed in 2007 as part of the 9/11 ACT will make it mandatory for cargo being shipped on commercial airlines originating from the United States to be screened/scanned at a level equal to the screening/checking the takes place for passenger luggage. The Transportation Security Administration (TSA) is charged with enforcing it the new law and the deadline for meeting this mandate is August 3rd, 2010.

If is possible for a freight forwarder or a manufacturer to become qualified to self screen the cargo that they ship via air freight.

Some questions that a manufacturer or wholesaler or purchasing company might ask themselves include:

Why should we try to become a self screener of cargo? How many of my air shipments are traveling on commercial/passenger aircraft and would my packages be compromised if they were opened during screening/transit?

Isn't cargo screening best left to the freight forwarder or airlines to handle?

Wouldn't it be to expensive for a small or mid-size company to buy the machinery or equipment needed to do cargo screening?

Will delays in airline screening / air shipments represent an unacceptable risk or loss to my company?

Is their a company out their that can help us to become a cargo screener, or that could give us guidance above and beyond the information that will be available from the TSA?

The answer is in many cases different than you think.

Gateway International Transport, inc. is Certified Cargo Screening Facility based in Houston, Texas, and we might be able to help you answer some of the questions above, or some others you might have as well. We became a CCSF without hiring an expensive outside firm to do the program for us, and we became certified without spending hundreds or thousands of dollars on screening equipment. The Gateway Logistics Group umbrella of companies that includes Gateway International Transport has a history of government compliance and in creating internal systems to meet the requirements of programs like CCSP, IACSSP, and CTPAT.

So if you have been asking yourself some of the questions above, or would like to work with a freight forwarder that can help you answer those questions then please contact us at sales@gateway-group.com. If you would like assistance with starting the process to become a CCSF - Gateway can put you in touch with the correct TSA contacts We can help you analyze the cost benefit of doing screening on your own, or perhaps confirm that your logistics partner is the best answer when it comes to screening your cargo. What we hope you decide is to not leave the screening of your important air shipments to the airlines to screen after the 100% deadline comes into place in August this year.

If you have questions do not hesitate to contact us at sales@gateway-group.com or phone us in Houston Texas at 281-443-7447. You can ask for David Collins.

6-May-10 12:00 PM

MCTF Endorses the CBP Customs Border and Protection effort to Strengthen Enforcement of Jones Act

Jason Pitcock — Tue, 25 Aug 2009 19:00:00 GMT

On August 17th, - The Maritime Cabotage Task Force (MCTF) issues a press release about the CBP closing several loop holes in the Jones Act that allowed certain foreign vessels to operate in US waters/waterways. The MCTF is dedicated to educating America on the economic, national security, environmental and safety benefits of the Jones Act and other U.S. cabotage laws so that domestic waterborne commerce remains a pillar of our national existence.

The press release indicated the following details:

MCTF Endorses Customs and Border ProtectionEffort to Strengthen Enforcement of Jones ActWashington, D.C –Non-Jones Act qualified vessels will no longer be able to engagein activities properly reserved for U.S.-flag vessels once Customs and Border Protection(“CBP”) implements its proposal to correct or eliminate several rulings that failed to take dueaccount of all the factors set forth in a key 1976 decision.“MCTF strongly supports CBP’s proposal, which will help ensure that our coastwiselaws are properly applied with respect to the transportation of certain merchandise betweenU.S. points,” the coalition stated in comments submitted on August 14. The proposalfocuses largely on correcting the incremental misapplication of a 1976 decision in whichCBP evaluated a range of activities undertaken by a pipeline repair vessel on the outercontinental shelf. Over the years, factors underlying the decision have been cited out ofcontext, eroding the fundamental analysis, with the result that non-coastwise qualifiedvessels engaged in activities properly reserved for Jones Act-qualified vessels.The Jones Act requires that merchandise moving between points in the United States by water be carried in a vessel that is built in the U.S., owned by U.S. citizens, documented under U.S. registry, and crewed by U.S. seafarers. The Jones Act wasenacted in 1920, but the United States has reserved the domestic trades to U.S. vesselssince 1817 and had other laws to promote a U.S.-flag fleet since 1789.“A close reading of the 1976 decision makes clear that CBP never intended thedefinition of vessel equipment to depend solely on the mission of the vessel or to change dramatically from one vessel to the next,” stated the MCTF. “Permitting non-coastwise qualified vessels to carry equipment, supplies, or other articles that are not needed to navigate, operate, or maintain the vessel undermines the coastwise laws because it permitstransportation that should be reserved for U.S. coastwise qualified vessels.”Maritime Cabotage Task Force was founded in 1995 to promote the U.S.-flag fleetengaged in domestic waterborne commerce. With more than 400 members, MCTF is thelargest coalition ever assembled to represent the domestic segment of the U.S. MerchantMarine. Nationwide, there are more than 39,000 vessels engaged in Jones Act commerceand they annually move more than 1 billion tons of cargo and 100 million passengers. TheAct has been broadly supported by every Congress and Administration since its passage in1920 and is considered a key element in the nation’s national defense capabilities.

For more information on the MCFT you can visit their website at http://www.mctf.com

Gateway Logistics Group - A freight forwarder focusing on logistics management in ocean freight forwarding, air freight shipping and trucking logistics as well as charter or part charter needs. A logistics company offering transportation logistics for freight forwarding and logistic services for freight transportation, customs brokerage for global logistics, cargo insurance for transport logistics and freight tracking for all worldwide logistics services. If you are a corporation looking for an expert in logistics with a background with dealing with the Jones Act on US waterways, then please contact us at sales@gateway-group.com, or visit our website at http://www.gateway-group.com

25-Aug-09 2:00 PM

Los Angeles Port's Rivals Gain Market Share

David Collins — Mon, 20 Apr 2009 20:00:00 GMT

Los Angeles and neighbor Long Beach has long been the #1 Port in the United States but this status may beginning to erode. A receive article in the Wall Street Journal Confirmed this.

Next month, shipping giant AP Moeller-Maersk will begin docking A line of 6,000-container ships in Seattle that currently go to Southern California.

Business in the West Cost is becoming more competitive and ports like Seattle our part of the reason Los andgeles container volume was down 6% in 2008.

For the full article on this trend you can click the following link. http://online.wsj.com/article/SB123966509693815117.html

While the Maersk move is a small fraction of the eight million containers handled annually at the Port of Los Angeles, it does show how the nation's largest port is coming under pressure as volumes drop. New regulations, such as tougher environmental restrictions, have made the port more fuel efficient, but the additional costs have made it more vulnerable to losing market share of U.S.-bound goods.

Major interruptions at the Port of Los Angeles -- including a West Coast lockout of dockworkers in 2002 and a large backup at the port in 2004 have also made some shippers wary of putting all their container traffick into that one port of Los Angeles.

This is why lane segments must be evaluated on an ongoing basis by importers and exporters. If you need assistance in finding the best port of entry or exit from the US, Gateway can assist with those decisions.

Gateway Logistics Group - A freight forwarder focusing on logistics management in ocean freight forwarding, air freight shipping and trucking logistics. The Gateway Logistics Group is a logistics company offering transportation logistics for freight forwarding and logistic services for freight transportation, customs brokerage for global logistics, cargo insurance for transport logistics and freight tracking for all worldwide logistics services.

20-Apr-09 3:00 PM

PHA Port of Houston Authority Reports that it "Successfully Implements Transportation Worker Identification Credential Today" 4/14/09 TWIC

David Collins — Wed, 15 Apr 2009 15:15:00 GMT

The Port of Houston met it's nationally mandated deadline to implement the TWIC program for the Houston/Galveston Area. Starting April 14th, 2009, any worker with out a TWIC card will not be allowed on to any port of Houston Facility without a Authorized Escort. Gateway Logistics Group, Inc. has escorts available on a per hour or day rate basis for any corporation, or entity that requires access to a port facility. You may contact our Sales Team for scheduling of these escort services.

Following please find the reprinted information from the Port of Houston Media Release dated from 4/14/09

PHA Successfully Implements Transportation Worker Identification Credential Today

The Port of Houston Authority successfully implemented the federal Transportation Worker Identification Credential (TWIC) today, the compliance deadline for the U.S. Houston-Galveston sector. In fact, two PHA facilities, Care and Barbours Cut terminals, were spot-inspected by U.S. Coast Guard and found to have no deficiencies.

The TWIC program aims to ensure that individuals who pose a threat do not gain unescorted access to secure areas of the nation's maritime transportation system. Beginning today, anyone needing unescorted access to secure areas of the Port of Houston Authority, as well as any federally regulated facility along the Houston Ship Channel, must either have a TWIC card or be escorted while on the property.

“The Port of Houston Authority (PHA) has worked diligently over the last few years preparing for today’s implementation and I am pleased to report that the process is proceeding smoothly,” says Wade M. Battles, PHA acting executive director. “We will also continue to work with the U.S. Coast Guard to address any challenges and issues associated with the startup of this program.”

The purpose of the TWIC program is to increase security at U.S. seaports by providing a common identification credential for transportation workers. Anyone applying for a TWIC card must pass a threat assessment.

The TWIC is a “smart card,” which contains the worker’s name, photo and biometric information (fingerprint template). To obtain a TWIC, an individual must successfully pass a security threat assessment conducted by the Transportation Security Administration (TSA), which looks at criminal background, immigrant status, terrorist watch list screening as well as mental capacity. It takes an average of 21 days from application to receive the credential.

"Ensuring a safe and secure port is a top priority of the Port of Houston Authority,” says Battles. "And as part of that effort, we support the TWIC program. It is a needed credential to improve the security of MTSA (Maritime Transportation Security Act) facilities by providing individual background checks and a tamper-resistant identity credential.”

Individuals who are required to have a TWIC include certain PHA employees, longshoremen, truckers, steamship lines personnel, stevedores and vendors. Nationwide, nearly one million individuals have already enrolled in TWIC. Nearly 300,000 people are required to have a TWIC card in the Houston region.

A list of permanent enrollment centers may be found at www.tsa.gov/twic and applicants are encouraged to pre-enroll online. Required identification includes one government-issued photo ID, such as an unexpired passport or unexpired permanent resident card, or two other types of documents, such as a driver’s license, a U.S. social security card, expired U.S. passport or birth certificate. TSA notifies applicants who receive a “Determination of No Security Threat” when the TWIC is ready for pickup.

A TWIC will be required for unescorted access throughout PHA’s Barbours Cut and Bayport container terminals. A TWIC will also be required for such access to the waterfront areas of PHA’s Turning Basin terminal (that is, all areas located on the waterfront side of the fence separating the upper and lower levels) and such other areas designated as “restricted” or “secured.”

The Coast Guard will conduct checks using handheld card readers to confirm the identity of TWIC holders during regular inspections and unannounced spot checks.

The U.S. Coast Guard has also granted a grace period from today until May 13, 2009, for people who have applied for TWIC, but are still waiting to receive their card. If an individual can provide proof that they have applied and it can be verified that they have passed the required security threat assessment, that person may be granted unescorted access during the grace period. Those individuals for whom that situation applies and who need access to PHA facilities should contact the Port Security & Emergency Operations Department at (713) 670-3600

15-Apr-09 10:15 AM

TWIC Program at Port of Houston Upgrades Security Standards.

David Collins — Thu, 05 Mar 2009 16:00:00 GMT

The Port of Houston Authority (PHA) will begin enforcing the Transportation Worker Identification Credential (TWIC) program on April 14th, 2009.

The TWIC program is mandated by federal law and regs., including the Maritime Transportation Security Act of 2002 (MTSA), the SAFE Port Act of 2006, and the regs. in 33 CFR Parts 101 and 105. Gateway Logistics Group is a Houston Freight Forwarder that will comply to this new TWIC program, and will even be able to supply escorts if a client has need.

The TWIC program is administered by two federal agencies that are part of the Department of Homeland Security, namely the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) and the United States Coast Guard (USCG). There will be two TWIC Enrollment Centers in the Houston area. You may wish to go to the website of these agencies foradditional information about the TWIC program. TSA’s TWIC website is: http://www.tsa.gov/twic

We understand that persons needing a TWIC may enroll for one at either of two Houston TWIC enrollment centers the addresses of which are as follows (these should be confirmed with TSA in case of change):

1. Portway Plaza (a/k/aWest Gulf Maritime Association Building), Suite 100,1717 Turning Basin, Houston, Texas, 77029 – located just off of TurningBasin Drive which is the exit on the west side of I-610 to the north ofClinton Drive.

2. 2900 Woodridge Drive, Suite 314, Houston, TX 77087 – this is located inthe Gulfgate Shopping Center in the Chase Bank Building at I-45 and I-610.2

The Port of Houston Authority PHA intends to support and comply with the federal TWIC program and regulations.

They have been informed by the USCG that it will commence enforcement of the TWIC regulations at the Houston Area facilities in Harris County on April 14, 2009.

At that time, each person requiring access to secured or restricted areas port facilities will be required to have a TWIC card or, alternatively, be escorted by a qualified TWIC escort. The PHA further indicates that it will not be responsible for the cost of compliance for TWIC or any other security rules, regulations and requirements, nor is it required toprovide a TWIC escort for any person.

The areas that will be effected by the new TWIC requirement in the Houston area are the PHA's Turning Basin Terminal fenced-off lower level (waterfront area) as well as several upper level areas and buildings that are secured and/or restricted and require a TWIC for unescorted access. Also included will be most of the Barbours Cut and Bayport Container Terminals, and some sections of the Bayport Cruise Terminal. You must check before entering the PHA areas to make sure that TWIC access is or is not required.

It is important to note that the PHA does not intend to provide TWIC escorts to vendors, and is advising all port vendors that thier employees, contractors, agents or others working in their behalf or under thier control should have a TWIC in their possession (which can be inspected by USCG inspectors as well as PHA police, security guards and others involved in security) no later than April 14, 2009 in order to be eligible for access to the secured areas of PHA’s facilities. The futher indicated that, persons desiring access to any part of PHA facilities must have a bona fide business purpose and be otherwise authorized for such access, and PHA reserves the right to set regulations and grant or deny access for reasons in addition to possession or non-possession of a TWIC card.

The Port of Houston has also indicated that any fine that applies as a result of failure to meet the new TWIC requirement will be subject to full reimbursement from the person, company, or vendor that failed to maintain TWIC Standards.

If you have need to access the port and do not have a TWIC, please contact the Gateway Logistics Group, Inc. for assistance, unless you are a truck driver. Trucker's can request an escort at the port directly from the port. We have qualified TWIC Escorts to enter the port if a client has a bonafide reason for entering the Port Of Houston TWIC Areas, (i.e. to inspect freight, view a vessel loading, etc.). Contact sales at sales@gateway-group.com if you have additional questions/ This information is provided from a Letter Published to the trade by the Port of Houston Authority on Feb. 26, 2009.

The Gateway Logistics Group - A freight forwarder focusing on logistics management in ocean freight forwarding, air freight shipping and trucking logistics can assist you with your shipping requirements. We are a logistics company offering transportation logistics for freight forwarding and logistic services for freight transportation, customs brokerage for global logistics, cargo insuranace for transport logistics and freight tracking for all worldwide logistics services. If you need additional information please visit our website at http://www.gateway-group.com or contact us at sales@gateway-group.com

5-Mar-09 10:00 AM

Container Capacity Shrinks

David Collins — Mon, 08 Dec 2008 21:00:00 GMT

The JOC reported December 5th 2008 that "Ocean container carriers have cut capacity on the three main east-west liner trade routes by 6.7 percent, or 61,000 TEUs a week, over the past four months amid stalling cargo volumes and falling freight rates." Gateway Logistics Group is a Houston and Miami Based Freight Forwarder that can assist in taking advantage of the falling shipping rates, as well as lock in needed containers for export shipments.

The JOC Article went on to report:

The Far East- Europe-Mediterranean trade saw the biggest drop, with weekly capacity down 9 per cent from 418,000 TEUs to 380,000 TEUs. Capacity on the Far East-North America route shrunk 5.5 percent to 357,000 TEUs from 376,000 TEUs and fell 2.5 percent on the Europe/Mediterranean-North America trade from 128,000 TEUs to 121,500 TEUs.

Meanwhile, container ship orders have fallen below 6.5 million TEUs for the first time in 13 months, AXS Alphaliner said.

“New orders have virtually vanished during the past two months while a few existing orders have been canceled or converted into other ship types.”

The world order book stood at 1,236 ships of 6.44 million TEUs on Dec. 1, equivalent to 52.2 percent of the existing fleet, compared with a peak of 64 percent a year ago.

Deliveries of new ships are running at an average of 4,350 TEUs a day, or some 130,000 TEUs per month, AXS said. The current container fleet now totals 4,651 vessels of 12.26 million TEUs.

Some 47 ships of 76,000 TEUs capacity have been scrapped so far this year, half within the past two months."

The cuts in capacity caused by falling shipping rates will eventually turn around. When this occurs, shippers that have taken advantage of the lower rates by locking them in for extended time periods will be poised to take advantage of the increase.

Gateway Logistics Group is a freight forwarder that focuses on logistics management in ocean freight forwarding. If you are a corporate traffic manager that needs a logistics company offering transportation logistics solutions that can take advantage of industry trends like the noted container cutbacks, then you can find more information at our website.

The JOC article is from December 5th, 2008.

8-Dec-08 3:00 PM

Known Shipper System KSMS can cause delays for Exporters that are not Prepared

David Collins — Tue, 11 Nov 2008 21:45:00 GMT

The new Known Shipper System that TSA has implemented for all US Freight Forwarders can cause delays for Air Exporters that are not prepared. You must make sure your suppliers, as well your own warehouses and offices, are known shippers for you selected freight forwarder(s) if you need to ship Air Freight on a Passenger Aircraft Flight. This applies to domestic and international shipments that originate in the United States. The Gateway Logistics Group offers a word to the wise. Work with you forwarder to make sure you are prepared before the urgent shipment comes up.

The good news is that the TSA has made it much easier for Logistics Firms and International Freight Forwarders like Gateway Logistics Group, Inc. based in Houston Texas, to make sure that a Known Shipper Status is verified for each air shipment that goes on a passenger aircraft flight.

As a purchasing agent, or international project or shipping manager, you must try to balance finding a freight forwarder or forwarder(s) that is both competitive in price for urgent air shipments, as well as one that is productive in making sure your shipments move as booked. The last thing you need is to select a vendor to move a urgent air shipment half way across the globe, and then find out that the shipment did not move, because your supplier in Conroe did not pass it's Known Shipper Status Check for the forwarder you chose.

The TSA has mandated that any Supplier or Facility that tenders cargo to a Freight Forwarder must be verified as a Known Shipper for that specific forwarder. It does not matter that a given supplier Example: ABC Company is a known shipper to David's Forwarding Firm in Houston. If you select Gateway International Transport, Inc. to handle your shipment, then the ABC Company must be a known shipper for them as well. This is the requirement independent of who shows as the ultimate shipper on the airway bill that moves the cargo.

Now you may say wait a minute.. I have been a known shipper for the ABC Company for years, and so all my suppliers are also known shippers for the same reason. This is still "technically true" because the TSA has not completely phased out the old known shipper system that was in effect prior to November of 2007. However, under the new KSMS known shipper system that will ultimately replace the old system, each supplier or warehouse facility must be a known shipper for a forwarder regardless of the AWB shipper known shipper status. In other words if your forwarder collects cargo on your behalf from 10 different vendors for an air shipment that is going as cargo on a passenger aircraft flight, then all 10 vendors must be known shippers for that shipment.

There is no final date when the transitional period between old and new known shipper procedures will take effect but don't let this inevitable date cause you to have a shipment delayed in the future. The Gateway Logistics Group, Inc. a freight forwarder with Houston headquarters can assist you in making sure all your warehouse facilities and vendors have known shippers before your next urgent air freight shipment occurs.

You can contact someone in the sales team sales@gateway-group.com to assist you with this preparing the correct information or contact David Collins in the IT department for more information on how this process works as well.

The new procedure for verifying Known Shipper Status can be a quick and easy process if you have the right assistance in advance. The Gateway Logistics Group has over 20 years of experience in making sure shippers meet all export air regulations and procedures including known shipper status. The Gateway Logistics Group, Inc is also a certified CTPAT member so you can be certain that they are a firm that has a strong commitment to keeping the United Sates air and ocean traffic lanes open and free of the threats of terrorism.

For more information on Gateway Logistics, a Houston Freight Forwarder, visit the company website at http://www.gateway-group.com or drop a line to someone in the sales team at sales@gateway-group.com .

11-Nov-08 3:45 PM

What do the changes in Electronic AES Filing Requirements Mean for the Average Exporter!

David Collins — Wed, 01 Oct 2008 20:00:00 GMT

Sept. 1st, 2008 will mark a change that has long been coming in the Ocean Export AES Regulations that all exporters must meet. The Paper SED that once was the standard operating procedure for Steamship Lines/Forwarders and Exporters will be officially extinct, and the Government has issued the teeth to make sure the burial of the Paper SED is complete in the forms of much stiffer fines for Non Compliance. Gateway Logistics Group with US Offices in Houston and Miami are ready for these changes, and stand ready to serve.

Here is a link to the US Census Statement about this new change in regulations. http://www.gateway-group.com/en/art/?20

So what does this mean to the average Exporter?

Most Steamship Lines are going to a NO DOCUMENT/NO LOAD policy when it comes to AES requirements. Some have actually created paperwork cutoff's that mirror equipment turn in cutoffs for return of Containers to Port Facilities. Now an exporter must make sure his container is returned loaded correctly to the port by a given CUT-OFF, and that his Paperwork/AES is completed by a CUT-OFF as well if he wants to meet his customers shipping schedules and delivery dates.

An example of this new policy is Bernuth Lines in Miami which issued the following memo last week:

June 20, 2008
To all valued Customers -

Attached are the new AES/SED Requirements for Bernuth Lines. Please read and sign forms as needed.

Prior to July 2, 2008 – New AES/SED requirements, Bernuth Cut off times are as follows:
Friday Vessel Sailing – Cut off on Thursday at 5:00pm Saturday Vessel Sailing – Cut off on Friday at 5:00pm
All IMO Cargo –Please reference to the attached Notice.
NO DOCS, NO LOAD will be strictly enforced.

Regards,
BERNUTH LINES

In addition these Steamship Lines are also adding disclaimer remarks to their booking notices and websites that make sure that any and all fines assessed by Census for AES non- compliance are shifted to the Freight Forwarder or Exporter without exception. This means that if the steamship fails to uphold their NO SHIP Policy, the blame goes to the exporter rather than to the Steamship Line.

The Gateway Logistics has the technical background and industry knowledge to make sure that our clients do not miss cut-offs or sailings because of these new AES requirements. We have a direct link to the Census AES system, and receive results from Customs on all AES entries within moments. We also make sure that we all documents needed to correctly file AES for our customers before missing Cut-Offs on shipments.

Gateway Logistics Group - A freight forwarder focusing on logistics management in ocean freight forwarding, air freight shipping and trucking logistics. A logistics company offering transportation logistics for freight forwarding and logistic services for freight transportation, customs brokerage for global logistics, cargo insurance for transport logistics and freight tracking for all worldwide logistics services.

If you need additional information or would like to contact us, visit our website at http://www.gateway-group.com

You can also visit the following government site: http://www.census.gov/foreign-trade/www/

1-Oct-08 3:00 PM

IMPORTERS NEED TO BE AWARE OF NEW MANDATORY REQUIREMENT FOR MARITIME CONTAINERS WITH SEALS TO MEET ISO/ PAS 17712 STANDARDS

Jason Pitcock — Thu, 21 Aug 2008 20:00:00 GMT

On August 13, 2008 The Port Of Houston/Galveston issued a Public Information Notice with regard to a new Mandatory Requirement that all Importers should be aware of.

We reprint the information here because we want to make sure that all details are passed on to our customers and the US Importers that may have questions about this new Seal Requirement:

US Customs and Border Protection Department of Homeland Security - AREA PORT OF HOUSTON/GALVESTON

PUBLIC INFORMATION NOTICE

DATE: 08 13 08

NUMBER: HFO 08-008

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CALL: CBPO SUPERVISOR ARIZPE

832-549-6779

SUBJECT: MANDATORY REQUIREMENT FOR MARITIME CONTAINERS WITH SEALS TO MEET ISO/ PAS 17712 STANDARDS

Federal Register Notice / Vol. 73, No. 153 was published August 7, 2008, and will become effective October 15, 2008, requires sealing all maritime containers with a seal that meets the International Organization for Standardization, Publicly Available Specification 17712 (ISO/PAS 17712), Freight Containers-Mechanical Seals.

This mandate is the result of several 2007 amendments to the Security and Accountability For Every Port (SAFE Port) Act of 2006. The provisions of Section 1701 of the Implementing Recommendations of the 911 Commission Act of 2007, codified at 6 U.S.C. § 944, impose a self-executing legal requirement. The Department of Homeland Security is not required to issue regulations for this requirement to be implemented. Therefore, no later than October 15, 2008, all maritime containers in transit to the United States must be sealed with an ISO/PAS 17712 mechanical seal.

The statutory requirement applies to loaded containers, including freight remaining on board, arriving by vessel at U.S. ports of entry. Exceptions, however, include tanks, non-standard containers (such as open top containers), and those incapable of being affixed with such a seal. US Customs and Border Protection will ensure compliance with this new requirement as part of normal seaport container inspection activities and does not envision new activities aimed simply at seal verification.

CBP will consider 6 U.S.C. 944 to be violated if a loaded container that is subject to the sealing requirements arrives by vessel at a port of entry in the United States on or after October 15, 2008 either (i) with no seal or (ii) with a seal that does not meet the ISO/PAS 17712 standard. CBP may assess a civil penalty against the party responsible for the violation of 6 U.S.C. § 944 under 19 U.S.C. § 1595a (b) for the attempted introduction of merchandise into the United States contrary to law.

CBP also takes this opportunity to remind vessel carriers that pursuant to 19 CFR 4.7 (b)(2) and 4.7a(c)(4)(xiv), seal numbers must be transmitted to CBP 24 hours before cargo is laden aboard a vessel at a foreign port via the Vessel Automated Manifest System (AMS).

DISCLAIMER: This information has been prepared for your convenience by the U.S. Customs and Border Protection officers at the Port of Houston/Galveston. This material is intended to provide guidance. Recognizing that many complicated factors are involved in CBP matters, an importer may wish to obtain a binding ruling under 19 CFR Part 177. Reliance solely on this information may not be considered reasonable care. Importers are referred to Treasury Decision 97-96, which was published in the Federal Register of December 4, 1997, and in the Customs Bulletin of December 17, 1997, for in-depth information on the concept of reasonable care.

Michael J. Sinclair

Area Port Director 7141 Office City Drive, Houston, TX 77087 Please visit our website at www.cbp.gov

In layman terms this means all importers must begin to use Seals that meet Federal Requirements. As an importer, If your supplier overseas ships you a full container of cargo after October 15th, 2008 that does not have the proper Mechanical Locking Seal, you may be fined by US customs on a per container basis.

Here are a few samples of mechanical seals that meet the standard:

Don't let this happen to you. Contact a sales team member at the Gateway Logistics Group, sales@gateway-group.com or anyone in the Houston or Miami Import Departments and we can make sure that your suppliers know the correct types of seals to use. We can assist in routing your cargo through a network of agents that are aware of this new requirement. We are a full service Logistics Provider with on staff fully certified Customs Brokers in both Houston and Miami. We can clear cargo remotely for almost any Major US port inbound from any foreign country. If you have questions please do not hesitate to call.

21-Aug-08 3:00 PM

Tropical Storm Edouard Heading For Houston, Gateway Logistics is Prepared.

David Collins — Mon, 04 Aug 2008 13:00:00 GMT

Tropical Storm Edouard is on track to make landfall in the Houston area, and the Gateway Logistics Group will be prepared. On Tuesday August 5th, the office in Houston may be closed as a precaution for Gateway Employees. However, key contacts will be available in Houston by phone and the Miami Office will be open to field calls and answer requests.

Normal methods of contact: e-mail and phone - will be available unless there are serious outages of power, etc. in the Houston area from the storm.

For more information on the storm please check one of the Houston media outlets for more detailed information on the storm.

http://www.click2houston.com/weather/17084768/detail.html

4-Aug-08 8:00 AM

ELECTRONIC MANDATORY AES is a reality! Final Rule published on June 2, 2008 NO AES, NO LOAD Policy go into effect for most Steamship Lines and FINES Increased for Non Compliance

Jason Pitcock — Mon, 23 Jun 2008 19:00:00 GMT

From The Census Bureau:

Notice to U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) Headquarters, Port Directors, Department of Commerce District Offices, U.S. Principal Parties in Interest, Freight Forwarders, Authorized Agents, Exporting Carriers, and All Others Concerned

From: William G. Bostic, Jr.
Chief, Foreign Trade Division
Subject: Mandatory Automated Export System (AES) Filing for all Shipments
Requiring Shipper’s Export Declaration (SED) information

The U.S. Census Bureau has issued the final rule implementing provisions in the Foreign Relations Authorization Act, Public Law 107-228. This rule was published in the Federal Register on June 2, 2008, amending Title 15, Code of Federal Regulations, Part 30, Foreign Trade Regulations (FTR) in its entirety. Effective July 2, 2008, the Census Bureau is requiring mandatory filing of export information through the Automated Export System (AES) or through the AESDirect for all shipments where a Shipper’s Export Declaration (SED) is required. We are also providing the trade an additional 90 days to implement these new requirements. After the 90-day implementation period, which ends September 30, 2008, you must file your export information electronically through the AES or AESDirect.

Additionally, these new regulations have tougher penalty provisions that affect everyone in the export process. Penalties may be imposed per violation of the FTR from $1,100 to $10,000 both civil and criminal, for the delayed filing, failure to file, false filing of export information, and/or using the AES to further any illegal activity. Also, all AES filers are faced with new filing deadlines by mode of transportation for reporting export information. It is important that you understand these new requirements so that you avoid the increased penalties and seizure of your commodities.

The Census Bureau has instructed filers of export information to make every effort to submit these data via the AES or AESDirect to eliminate the use of paper SEDs immediately. During the 120-day implementation phase, the Census Bureau will use “informed compliance” to outreach to filers identified in violation of the FTR. Anyone submitting paper after
September 30, 2008 will be in violation of the FTR and subject to penalties.

The Census Bureau can assist you in understanding the new FTR and filing export information electronically through the AES. You may call 1-800-549-0595 with any questions you may have regarding the FTR or AES. We encourage you to attend, “The AES Compliance Seminars,” or the “AESPcLink Certification Workshops” offered in various cities in the United States. To find out more about these seminars and workshops, visit our Web site at . Additionally, we offer AESDirect, the free Internet-based application for companies that register on-line at the following Web site

Click on this Article to find out what these new regulations mean for the typical Exporter.

23-Jun-08 2:00 PM

Gateway Logistics Group Aware of Wood Packing Pitfalls faced by Importers

David Collins — Tue, 10 Jun 2008 20:00:00 GMT

The Gateway Logistics Group as a member of the HCCBFFA Houston Customhouse Brokers and Freight Forwarders Association receives corresponence on a wide variety of industry specific concerns and regulation. The following letter was forwarded from the Chicago Chapter of the Association and warns of potential expenses or fees importers may face when dealing with non standard -non treated wood packing materials used for import packaging.

The letter follows:

In September 2004 the USDA amended its import wood packing regulations adopting the standard set by the United Nations (UN), Food and Agriculture (FAO), International Standard for Phytosanitary Measures (ISPM) 15. The effective date set was in September 2005. A three step phase in period followed. Enforcement phases have been in effect for pallets and crating since February 2006 and for dunnage since July 2006.

see: http://www.cbp.gov/xp/cgov/trade/priority_trade/agriculture/wpm/

Or: http://www.aphis.usda.gov/import_export/plants/plant_exports/wpm/index.shtml]

Shipments with non-compliant wood packing must be re-exported. There are no provisions for destruction or treatment in the United States. This can become an extremely expensive and time consuming mitigation. It is becoming increasing difficult accomplish the re-export because of TSA regulations restricting the use of passenger aircraft to move freight to “known shippers.” As Europe moves into its enforcement of ISPM 15 it will become increasingly difficult to have returning violative wood transit other countries.

The potential costs of receiving a shipment containing uncertified, or fraudulently certified wood packing are staggering and for some companies, too much to bare. Yet, violations continue to be discovered at alarming rates.

I have asked several importers that had uncertified or infested wood packing in their shipments why they have not built in guarantees into the purchase or shipping contracts that include of the use proper wood backing. Generally they say that the manufacturer or shipper is unwilling to take on the liability at the prices negotiated. In other words they are not willing to pay the extra expense to use treated and certified wood packing and they then left holding the bag when it is discovered. There are also some importers that are not aware of the requirement.

The consequences for importers are much too high not to take precautions. This is particularly true for just-in-time deliveries or custom orders that simply could not be replaced by air shipping enough to get by until the replacement load arrives.

This chart shows the number of emergency action notifications (EAN) written by CBP for actual pests found in wood packing material. These EANs do not include violations where the wood was not certified with the IPPC certification stamp only. These are four of the top five countries. Mexico was excluded because of situations unique to the land border. As you can see the trend for live timber pests in wood packing is up.

Asian Longhorned Beetle, and Emerald Ash Borer are just two examples of timber pests that can be attributed to wood packing material. Sustained environmental pressure of timber pest introductions is likely to cause more outbreaks here in the United States. These outbreaks cost billions of dollars in damage, cost of eradication or control, and impact to local and export industries and the communities they help to support.

For More information on export certification of wood packing material produced in the United States see:

American Lumber Standard Committee (ALSC)

http://www.alsc.org/WPM_summary_mod.htm

National Wood Pallet and Container Association

http://www.palletcentral.com/ExportTreatment/ExportTreatmentProg.asp

Mark Grzeszkowiak

Chief Agriculture Specialist
Chicago Illinois

10-Jun-08 3:00 PM

Container Shortage Puts U.S. Export Boom in a Box

Jason Pitcock — Thu, 10 Apr 2008 16:45:00 GMT

The Wall Street Journal

Many U.S. companies hoping to profit from surging exports created by the weak dollar are facing an unexpected hurdle: There aren't enough of the big, metal shipping containers that help form the backbone of the global economy.

The shortage is threatening to limit the benefits U.S. producers can reap from one of the few bright spots in an otherwise troubled economy. While housing and financial markets have slumped, many companies have seen a rise in their export business, helping offset the domestic slump and lessening what would have already been a far more painful downturn.

Finding enough of the big metal boxes used to be a cinch, because the nation's massive hunger for imports meant they were constantly arriving and stacking up from Long Beach, Calif., to Long Island, N.Y. Shipping companies typically scoured the country for anyone willing to fill outgoing boxes. But with the slump in the value of the dollar making U.S. goods more attractive to foreign buyers and many overseas economies continuing to hum, the tide has shifted in recent months. Trade figures being released Thursday are expected by many economists to show further growth in exports.

Shipping containers - and the way they're handled - reflect how the U.S. interacts with the global economy, which is one reason the problem has emerged now. For years, the U.S. crafted a trading system that was designed to pull in masses of imported consumers goods such as sneakers and VCRs as efficiently as possible from countries like China. Far less was expected to flow the other way.

What has happened now has thrown a wrench into the works. Cutbacks by U.S. consumers have slowed the growth of imports, while the weak dollar is making the U.S. into an export machine. Meanwhile, the places where most of these exports are originating are far from where boxes are being unpacked and soaring energy costs make it too costly to just load them on trucks and move them around.

"There are some places, particularly in the Midwest, where there's a complete lack of containers," says Philip Damas, the head of container research at Drewry Shipping Consultants in London.

And it's not just boxes that are in short supply. Maersk Inc., the U.S. subsidiary of A.P. Moller-Maersk Group, the Danish container shipping company, notes a shortage of chassis, which are sets of wheels and frames on container-carrying trucks. Without enough chassis to deliver containers, it doesn't matter how many are piled up in a port, says a company spokeswoman. Yet another problem: Many shipping lines, including Maersk, have shifted container capacity away from the U.S., just when U.S. producers need them most.

This has meant lost orders, delays, or a scramble for alternatives, such as costlier air freight. A Wisconsin producer of riding lawn mowers expects fewer "opportunistic sales" to European customers in coming months, because he can't book containers on a few days' notice - three weeks are needed - while a South Carolina construction-machine maker says the shortage has delayed shipments to Australia and Europe. McCain International, the big french-fry company with operations in the U.S. and Canada, says it can't get enough refrigerated containers. Among the hardest hit are companies that shippers counted on to fill otherwise empty outbound ships: scrap metal and paper concerns.

"This is a huge problem for us and it keeps getting worse," says Shailesh Vyas, president of Bay Bridge Enterprises LLC, a scrap-metal processor in Chesapeake, Va. Mr. Vyas said shipping lines used to call on him to fill outbound 40-foot containers with scrap metal. But shippers no longer want low-value scrap when they can fill ships with higher-value goods, such as grain, chemicals and machinery.

As recently as August, Mr. Vyas was sending up to 1,000 containers a month to customers in India, Bangladesh and Pakistan, which melt scrap to make new steel products. Now, he's lucky to get 300 or 400 boxes, he says. "What's really frustrating is that, today, I could be moving 2,000 boxes a month without any problem, but I can't get the boxes."

Analysts say shipping costs are rising, too. Mr. Damas, the London-based consultant, says the cost of shipping a 40-foot container from the West Coast to China is now $1,500, up at least 20 percent in the past year. In many cases, boxes that previously would be sent to inland locations never leave the coast.

The problem surfaced about six months ago and can be traced to a confluence of factors, beyond the slump in the dollar. For one, the global commodity boom has increased the cost of shipping items by bulk, which in turn has pushed more goods into containers.

It doesn't help that containers don't tend to flow to places that make most U.S. exports. More imports to the U.S. are consumer goods, which are often unloaded near retailers and warehouses in large cities, including Los Angeles, Chicago, and New York. In the case of Chicago, many containers come off ships from Asia and onto trains destined for "inland" destinations. But U.S. commodity exports, such as cotton and corn, are grown far from those hubs.

The shortage of boxes is forcing some businesses to rethink how they structure operations. Dan Ariens, chief executive of Ariens Co., a Brillion, Wis., maker of lawn mowers and snowblowers, spent the last few years perfecting just-in-time production, which allowed him to sharply reduce inventories in warehouses.

"We've had to adapt to work with longer lead times, which means trying to get better vision from customers," says Mr. Ariens. Even then, he figures he'll lose some business because of the dearth of containers. For instance, an early spring in Europe might prompt a surge of lawn-mower orders, but he won't be able to get his products there quickly enough. Air freight is too expensive to even consider, he notes.

Manufacturers like Ariens work closely with freight forwarders, which help companies move goods around the world. But Tim Schwerzler, vice president of sales at Harbour Freight, the Batavia, Ill.-based forwarder who works with Ariens, says many manufacturers, even huge companies with long-standing relationships with the shipping lines, are facing similar problems.

"A lot of companies have product sold, but can't get the product out - it's tying up a lot of inventory," says Mr. Schwerzler. "Even if you get containers, you find more people fighting for space on the ships."

Sometimes, the shortage can torpedo an entire transaction. One of his customers wanted to buy ice-cream sandwiches from a company with factories in the upper Midwest to ship to the Caribbean, but couldn't get a steady flow of refrigerated containers to the factory. Shipping ice cream by truck to a distant port was too costly and fraught with risk of spoilage.

Analysts say that barring a global slowdown that put the brakes on U.S. exports, the problem will dog exporters at least through the end of next year.

Copyright 2008 The Associated Press. The information contained in the AP news report may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or otherwise distributed without the prior written authority of The Associated Press. Active hyperlinks have been inserted by AOL.

04/10/08 11:56 EDT

http://money.aol.com/news/articles/_a/container-shortage-puts-us-export-boom/n20080410120309990029

10-Apr-08 11:45 AM

Gateway Logistics APHIS Information

Donna English — Thu, 27 Sep 2007 21:00:00 GMT

To our Valued Customers,

On our forms page http://www.gateway-group.com/faqs/index.asp please find information for the International Plant Protection Convention standard for Wood Packaging Materials.

This will be implemented on September 16, 2005. The United States, along with 136 countries, have decided to tackle the issues of pests from other countries that wipe out entire forests. This is a very serious issue, as there have been losses of billions of dollars caused by this epidemic.

Therefore, all wood with the exception of plywood, particle board, wine and whiskey barrels, and oriental strand board, must meet these standards.

If you import into the United States and your shipper did not use the treated wood with the required stamps, US Customs has stated that they will stop the shipment and require you to ship it back to origin immediately. Please contact your shippers to insure that they are in compliance. If you import from Countries that did not sign this agreement, they must still meet the requirements, or upon arrival in the US , Customs will not clear it and will require you as the importer to ship it back. US Customs has stated that they will not treat the wood here, once it has arrived.

If you are exporting to a country that is part of this agreement, you must also meet these standards, or your product will be shipped back, or in some countries they will charge you thousands of dollars to treat it there.

If you are exporting, please note Gateway Logistics Group, Inc. has the Government issued stamp for our location and can crate or palletize your product meeting the requirements.

The APHIS website is http://www.aphis.usda.gov/ppq/wpm/

It should have the answers to many of your questions, but please do not hesitate to contact us as well. We can answer your questions, and ensure that you are in compliance.

Donna English
General Manager Miami Office
Gateway Logistics Group, Inc.
denglish@gateway-group.com

27-Sep-07 4:00 PM

Gateway Logistics APHIS Information

Donna English — Thu, 27 Sep 2007 21:00:00 GMT

To our Valued Customers,

On our forms page http://www.gateway-group.com/faqs/index.asp please find information for the International Plant Protection Convention standard for Wood Packaging Materials.

Therefore, all wood with the exception of plywood, particle board, wine and whiskey barrels, and oriental strand board, must meet these standards.

If you are exporting, please note Gateway Logistics Group, Inc. has the Government issued stamp for our location and can crate or palletize your product meeting the requirements.

The APHIS website is http://www.aphis.usda.gov/ppq/wpm/

It should have the answers to many of your questions, but please do not hesitate to contact us as well. We can answer your questions, and ensure that you are in compliance.

Donna English
General Manager Miami Office
Gateway Logistics Group, Inc.
denglish@gateway-group.com

27-Sep-07 4:00 PM

CBP to assess fines for violation of the wood packaging import regulations Wood Packing Material

Jason Pitcock — Thu, 24 May 2007 15:00:00 GMT

AS A TRADE MEMBER WE RECEIVE INFORMATION ON A REGULAR BASIS FROM THE GOVERNMENT WITH REGARDS TO NEW REGULATIONS, ETC.. WE PASS THIS INFORMATION ON VIA ARE WEBSITE FOR THE BENEFIT OF OUR CUSTOMERS, VENDORS, AND GENERAL PUBLIC. FOR MORE INFORMATION CLICK ON ONE OF THE LINKS BELOW.

U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) has issued the following information regarding CBP to assess fines for violation of the wood packaging import regulations Wood Packing Material.

WASHINGTON, D.C.— Effective Friday March 9, 2007 U.S. Customs and Border Protection may issue claims for liquidated damages and/or penalties against importers, carriers or bonded custodians for importing wood packaging material (WPM) in violation of the regulations.

Liquidated damages result from a breach of obligation under bond. When violations occur, liquidated damages and/or penalties will be assessed based on the value of the merchandise, which is considered the value of the WPM plus the value of the commodity or commodities identified for importation on the entry documentation. The liquidated damages claim may be issued at three times the entered value of the merchandise but not greater than the bond amount.

The WPM regulations have been in full enforcement since July 5, 2006 and was implemented in a three-phase approach to ensure that the trade is fully informed. The regulations require all WPM entering or transiting through the United States to be properly marked to indicate that it has been either heat treated or treated with methyl bromide in accordance with the International Standards for Phytosanitary Measures: Guidelines for Regulating Wood Packaging Material in International Trade (ISPM 15), and be free of timber pests.

Immediate exportation is required of any noncompliant WPM. This includes WPM that is unmarked, inappropriately marked, or marked but found infested with a live wood-boring pest of the families Cerambycidae, Buprestidae, Siricidae, Cossidae, Curculionidae, Platypodidae, Sesiidae and Scolytidae. All costs associated with the handling of violative WPM, including the cost of exportation, are the responsibility of the violator.

For more information on the implementation and enforcement of the WPM regulations and related guidelines on liquidated damages and penalties, please visit the CBP website at http://www.cbp.gov/xp/cgov/import/commercial_enforcement/wpm/ <http://www.cbp.gov/xp/cgov/import/commercial_enforcement/wpm/> .

Enforcement of the WPM regulations is essential to protect the U.S. agricultural resources. Untreated wood poses a significant risk of introducing plant pests that can be detrimental to agriculture and to natural, cultivated, and urban forest resources.

-CBP-

U.S. Customs and Border Protection is the unified border agency within the Department of Homeland Security charged with the management, control and protection of our nation's borders at and between official ports of entry. CBP is charged with keeping terrorists and terrorist weapons out of the country while enforcing hundreds of U.S. laws.

24-May-07 10:00 AM

Gateway Logistics Group Inc. a Houston Freight Forwarder now offers increased Web Tracking options through their Website.

Tue, 12 Sep 2006 20:00:00 GMT

The Gateway Logistics Group, Inc. a Houston Freight Forwarder with offices in Miami, and a global network of agents is pleased to now offer enhanced web tracking capabilities. Any customer or consignee can now log into the Gateway Web Site within one hour, or less, from the time they make a booking, and see up to date status information on their shipment at www.gateway-group.com. The Gateway Logistics Group is a full service logistics provider that handles domestic and international air freight, ocean freight, imports, charters, exports, custom house brokerage, warehousing, receiving, and export crating services. Web Tracking Services only enhance our company’s commitment to providing clients with a high level of customer service and giving them the critical business information they need to operate.

In addition to normal web updates the Gateway Logistics Website, is also connected via EDI with every large Air Carrier in the world. If the airlines system supports EDI messaging, then we also place automatically on our web tracking system any activity related to an every AWB that we submit to that air carrier. This EDI information allows us yet another way to supply quick and accurate information, via our web tracking system to our customers. Every message generated by the airlines internal system, is mirrored onto our site.

12-Sep-06 3:00 PM

Wood Packaging Material - ISPM 15 enters Phase III on July 5th, 2006

David Collins — Thu, 06 Jul 2006 16:00:00 GMT

Wood Packaging Material - ISPM 15
Final Implementation Stage - July 5th

The final rule for import regulation for wood packaging materials (WPM) was posted in the Federal Register September 16, 2004, with an effective date of September 16, 2005. CBP has had a phased-in compliance enforcement of the WPM with phase II ending July 4, 2006. The regulation calls for wood packaging material to be made from debarked round wood and either heat treated or fumigated with methyl bromide and marked with an approved international mark certifying treatment.

Phase III represents full enforcement of the WPM regulations by CBP and the Department of Agriculture’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS). This will impact all cargo shipments that have non-compliant WPM, including crates and pallets.

The WPM regulations do not apply to the following:

B7 Manufactured items, such as worked wood items, even if they are used to contain other non-regulated merchandise.

B7 Wine crates for any vintage year prior to 2006.

B7 Manufactured wood, such as fiberboard, plywood, polywood, whisky and wine barrels, strand board, or veneers.

B7 Loose wood packing materials, as defined in 7 CFR 319.40-1, such as excelsior, sawdust and wood shavings.

B7 WPM made from Canadian-origin wood or U.S.-origin wood, or combination of the two, when used in trade between these two countries.

CBP and APHIS will require the immediate re-exportation of any WPM not in compliance with the ISPM 15 treatment and marking standard as well as any marked WPM that is found to be infested with live wood-boring pests.

Exporters should be aware that a foreign importer’s government can return the shipment to the exporter or quarantine and fumigate it at the receiving port. They may also strip the packaging, repackage the goods, and burn the original package.

Further information may be found at http://www.cbp.gov/xp/cgov/import/commercial_enforcement/wpm/.

For further information, please contact Mike Lang, Sales Director at Gateway’s corporate headquarters. Mike Lang can be reached at via the corporate number: or via email at mlang@gateway-group.com . To view a directory of Gateway's office locations, please visit our website at www.gateway-group.com

6-Jul-06 11:00 AM

Gateway Logistics APHIS Information

Donna English — Thu, 18 Aug 2005 13:00:00 GMT

To our Valued Customers,

On our forms page http://www.gateway-group.com/faqs/index.asp please find information for the International Plant Protection Convention standard for Wood Packaging Materials.

Therefore, all wood with the exception of plywood, particle board, wine and whiskey barrels, and oriental strand board, must meet these standards.

If you are exporting, please note Gateway Logistics Group, Inc. has the Government issued stamp for our location and can crate or palletize your product meeting the requirements.

The APHIS website is http://www.aphis.usda.gov/ppq/wpm/

It should have the answers to many of your questions, but please do not hesitate to contact us as well. We can answer your questions, and ensure that you are in compliance.

Donna English
General Manager Miami Office
Gateway Logistics Group, Inc.
denglish@gateway-group.com

18-Aug-05 8:00 AM

World's Largest Container Ship Docks In Singapore

Jason Pitcock — Mon, 25 Jul 2005 23:00:00 GMT

SINGAPORE, July 24 (Bernama) -- MSC Pamela,

The world's largest container ship, docked at PSA's Pasir Panjang Terminal Saturday in its maiden voyage to Singapore.

The 9,200-TEUs (twenty-foot equivalent units) vessel has the largest declared capacity for container ships in the world, and is the largest vessel to call at PSA Singapore Terminals, PSA said in a statement.

When lined up from end to end, the 9,200 TEUs of containers would span 56km which is more than the length of Singapore island from the eastern tip of Changi to Jurong in the west.

Owned by Mediterranean Shipping Company (MSC) of Geneva, Switzerland, the 337-metre long MSC Pamela was built by Samsung Heavy Industries.

It will ply the Asia-Europe express route, calling at the ports of Valencia in Spain, Le Harve (France), Rotterdam (The Netherlands), Felixstowe (Britain), Antwerp (Belgium), Jebel Ali (United Arab Emirates), Singapore, Chiwan (China), Busan (South Korea), Shanghai and Ningbo (China) and Hong Kong.

With the addition of MSC Pamela, the Asia-Europe express route will now be served by a total of nine MSC vessels.

PSA Singapore Terminals chief operating officer Tan Puay Hin presented a plaque to the ship's captain, Capt P. Gentili, to commemorate the ship's voyage to Singapore.

25-Jul-05 6:00 PM