BRITISH SHIPPERS SHARE U.S. CONCERNS ON MARITIME SECURITY

BRITISH SHIPPERS SHARE U.S. CONCERNS ON MARITIME SECURITY

   British shippers share U.S. shippers’ desire to see a high standard of maritime container security introduced in the fight against terrorism, said Garry Mansell, vice chairman of the Shippers’ Council within the U.K.-based Freight Transport Association.

   Mansell told the Monterrey Seminar, a conference organized by the U.S. National Industrial Transportation League, that the U.K. is “standing shoulder to shoulder” alongside the U.S. in the war against terror.

   Commenting on the terror threat, Mansell said that the U.K. is “as much of a target as the U.S., particularly as U.S. increases security.” He said that container shipping is the vital artery in world trade, and lack of security makes it particularly vulnerable to attack.

   The U.K. Freight Transport Association believes that the U.S. government must cooperate 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.”

   Referring to this week’s and last week’s meetings on maritime security at the International Maritime Organization, Mansell said that the U.S. should work with its allies to ensure the introduction of a global container security system.” He said that the U.S. security proposals at the IMO represent an important start to the process.

   He called for a credible security system for shipping, and for containers in particular. “We must act before others act against us,” Mansell said.

   Trade facilitation means applying the “trusted shipper” concept, and must involve a security inspection of the consignment that is independently audited, Mansell said.